Your Manager is "Toxic" ? How to handle with him Without Changing Job ?

The most common reason underlying people's decision to change jobs is a problematic manager. A lot of employees quit their jobs because of a mean manager; someone who not only can stop your career growth but also negatively impact your personal life.

An annoying and may be a "toxic" manager is someone who takes recognition for your work and for what you did, never provides positive feedback and do his best to put you under a constant pressure at work. He never recognizes your performance and never support you in accomplishing your job.

The definition of the term “toxic manager” depends essentially on the employee's perception of their manager skills, of his management style and the workplace conditions driving him to be rigid or authoritarian.

We all know one. An enigmatic, authoritarian, uncaring and stressful manager. Someone with whom relations are always under tension, unproductive and sometimes destructive for the workplace relationships.

A toxic manager can have a negative impact on employees (productivity and emotionally), it is also destructive to the company (performances).

When it comes to lead a group, it's essential for a manager to adopt most conducive management styles that are aligned with his personality and the team environment. The top management of the company should handle with this kind of managers and transform them into normal managers before they cause irrevocable damage to the company and employees by hindering performance and creating unnecessary stress.

As an employee, it’s important to you to know whether you've got a toxic manager on your hands so before you start planning an exit strategy, it would be wise to rethink how you can better deal with him.

1-  Communicate, communicate and communicate!

You don’t need Machiavellian tactics to make you manager changes his mind. If your manager is not communicating with you, then you need to communicate with him. Just talk to him. Tell him what you need from him in term of feedback and support. Sharing with your boss a list of your criticisms won't solve anything. Try to be positive every time you see lot of negativity in his speech. If he asks you to bring a gold medal in the next Olympic games, say that you are working on that! If your boss refuses to admit that he is wrong, try to match your communication style to your boss’s style to avoid any misunderstanding.

2-  Don’t be intimidated or let him intimidate you!

It is natural and human to feel intimidated sometimes. Some managers seek to dominate, humiliate and destabilize their employees even if they work 24 hours a day. They are always dissatisfied. An intimidator manager will always make you feel that you are always wrong, guilty and in the red with him. Do not wait for your manager to change his behavior. Make him aware of his behavior and ask him to stop. Employers are responsible for preventing intimidation and harassment.

3-  Have an irreproachable professional attitude!

Hard work is what you're supposed to give in your job. Keep doing what it takes to make others think of you as reliable, respectful, and competent. Show respect to colleagues, be positive, take initiative and look always to your progress.

4-  What you need to change?

First of all, change the way you look to the situation! Instead of making the job about your manager, make it about yourself. Set new priorities and targets. Do not wait for your manager to change his behavior or management style, shape your own personal management environment. Focus on serving and doing a great job, find motivation in what you do and never give up “fighting”.

5-  Your last option!

If a transfer or promotion is unavailable and nothing changes despite all your efforts, quit your Job! It is always the last option if your manager won't change.

Remember, you can learn from anyone even from a toxic manager. Stay positive and happy. “Work hard and don't give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm and genuine people” [Tena Desae].

A?man BEN BRAHIM