9 Powerful Ways to Deal With Difficult Bosses

Everyone has had a tough boss at some point in their lives. According to a study, almost half of all employees have been targeted by a boss at one point or other. A tough boss may make you work beyond the regular schedule, sets extremely high standards which may be unrealistic and painful.

In order to deal with such kind of bosses, we have come with a set of tips that you will find useful.

1.Identifying motivation of your boss:

Initially, understand the reason for your boss’ tough behavior and try to figure out your boss’ motivation. The better you understand what your boss does, the better your workplace will be, as subordinates might try to understand his motive for being tough and act accordingly.

2.Remember you are dealing with a tough boss:

Always remember that a tough boss is capable of hurting your career, by providing negative feedback and negative performance review. So make sure to deal him properly.

Observe your boss; notice things that he/she is good at and bad at. When they are doing something “bad,” try to imagine the most forgiving reason why it could have occurred. By analyzing well you can be successful in dealing them.

3.Take leadership:

When dealing with a difficult boss,  it’s always best to make some leadership decisions on your own. If you know your own ways of dealing with the things, you can go ahead creating and pursuing a direction which will achieve good results. And instead of relying on your boss’ approval, you can continue with our own ways taking a lead.

4.Maintain a Document:

When your boss discusses something with you make sure you write them down. You need to create a document if your boss always verbally tells, and the responsibility lies with you to follow up. Maintaining a document is always a best practice when we are dealing with tough bosses.

 5.Don’t lose your sense of humor:

A good sense of humor can help you from your boss. Though there may not be anything funny about workplace but remember that you have to make the work interesting for yourself which can be achieved through humor. Learning to laugh everyday can help you improve your attitude and the relation with boss. At some point of time the boss will also recognize your patience.

6.Don’t Let Those Affect Your Work:

No matter how bad your boss’ behavior is, never let it affect your work. It is not the boss that decides your capability, it is the work that speaks. 

7.Learn to Adapt:

First realize the necessity of job you have, and keep in mind that you’ll have to do the job and will never find the perfect workplace or perfect anything. If you cannot tolerate something, try to adapt than giving up. To cope when a difficult boss is difficult but motivate yourself by remembering the need of a job and career thus making yourself adaptable with the job and the boss.

8.Set boundaries:

Other people can only affect you if you allow them to do so. Ergo, donot allow anyone to hurt you. Set a limitation for everyone, prioritize people, things and act accordingly. Never let a person cross their limits. Set boundaries for everyone, even though s/he is a boss, and make sure that s/he will never cross his/her boundaries.

9.Be Professional:

This is critically important. Maintain a calm and professional way while dealing with your difficult boss. Don’t get into a shouting, argument and losing your temper. Always be straightforward and professional.

Further, timing is everything when managing conflict with a boss. Sometimes you have to wait and be patient enough. If your is so angry and stress level may be high so wait until the things go well.