Manager and employee relationships are critical when it comes to an employee’s personal success within the company. Waking up and going to work every morning is so much easier when you feel recognized and valued by your boss. Many people don’t realize how great of an impact a manager has on an employee’s work experience and tenure with an organization. There are some cases where it’s simply a personality conflict, but good managers should be able to create a strategy so both the manager and employee can overcome their differences.
Unfortunately, many employees in the American workforce suffer because they have a ‘bad boss’. While dreading going to work is no way to live, looking for a new job isn’t always the answer. Here are some coping mechanisms to deal with your current ‘bad boss’.
1. Speak up.
Struggling to have a good relationship with your boss is no reason to stew in silence. You should be able to have a calm and professional discussion with your boss about how to resolve your differences. If you don’t confront them, then there is no chance to improve on your relationship. How you go about confronting them depends on the type of person they are and you should carefully plan your discussion according to their personality.
2. Be the change you want to see.
Chances are you’re not the only person who recognizes your boss’s poor behavior. Their lack of leadership gives you an opportunity to differentiate yourself by acting in the manner that they’re not. While it’s tempting to reciprocate in a similar behavior when dealing with them, don’t let their unprofessionalism become a habit of your own. Act in the manner that you wish they did, so you can be the change you want to see in them.
3. Learn more about them.
What does he/she care about? What is their strength? What is their weakness? Learning more about what drives and sets back your boss can be beneficial to strengthening your relationship with them. Having a better understanding of why they act in the manners that they do will allow you to have more successful interactions. Putting yourself in their shoes will give you insight on their core values, concerns and priorities.
4. Learn how to “manage up”.
Certain people are unchangeable and fixed in their ways. If this is true of your boss, you need to learn how to “manage up.” The old saying, “You get more flies with honey than vinegar,” is cardinal to “managing up”. Learning to speak to them in a language they understand is a sure way to alleviate some of the stress in your relationship.
For more information on how to strengthen your relationship with your boss, please reach out to Genesis HR Solutions at AskUs@genesishrsolutions.com or 800-367-8367.
Genesis HR Solutions is the premier PEO provider for Massachusetts based businesses.
