LINKEDIN AUDIO RECAP: How to deal with a bad boss… or tell if you are one.
Bad bosses. We've all encountered them—or at least know some frightening stories about them. So what do you do when you're in a tricky situation when you enjoy your job, but not the manager?
In this month's LinkedIn Audio, Fast Company's Work Life Deputy Editor Kate Davis, Senior Editor Julia Herbst, and Staff Editor AJ Hess joined forces to discuss how to navigate a tricky relationship with a bad boss when you're otherwise happy at work.
Top tips from our Work Life editors
Julia Herbst : One of the most frustrating scenarios is when your boss is generally MIA and doesn’t provide you with good feedback. Managers should be providing feedback regularly, too, not just during annual performance reviews.
AJ Hess : While it can be difficult to receive negative feedback, one of the most valuable things a manager can do is preemptively share opportunities for improvement. Not only can this feedback help you grow, but it's also always better to get feedback from your immediate boss before you potentially overlook a way in which you could be hurting your career, or before a potential weakness of yours is brought up to a boss who is higher up your organization’s leadership tree.?
Kathleen Davis : Depending on the behavior, you can identify a bad boss’ triggers, and preemptively prepare for them. For example, if they give you vague instructions yet expect you to know exactly what they want, you can ask them something like, “I know that it bothers you when you get a report that doesn’t analyze these things in details. Can I run a few questions by you to make sure that I’m focusing on the right things?”
When is it time to look for a new job?
If your boss’ behavior is veering from annoying to toxic and disrespectful, it’s probably time to consider moving on. Once you’ve decided quitting is your best option, you can do it without acting impulsively.
The results are in...
We surveyed the Fast Company LinkedIn audience before our event to learn what people already know about bad bosses and what they do when they have one. Here’s what they had to say:
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They're all bad. A sure fire way to get lackluster performance, apathy, and eventual loss of anyone with talent, passion, and energy worth keeping.—Julie Leonhardt
No, but I *wish* I had.—Kate Walsh
A bad boss is a death sentence for your career. Either change teams or leave the company. No other way. Just my personal opinion.—Rachel Sadacca?
More reading for bosses:
Tips for workers:
For more Work Life audio content, listen to "The New Way We Work" podcast.