FAIRLY AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGING A GLOBAL WORKFORCE

Dealing With a Bad Boss

Figure 01 Dealing with a Bad boss

As abusive supervision entails negative outcomes for individuals and organizations, a better understanding of leader- and follower-related antecedents of abusive supervision can help organizations prevent destructive leadership. In an experimental vignette study with 140 leaders,( Fehn, Theresa, and Astrid Schütz. 2022)

People with grandiose narcissism frequently aspire to be in leadership roles (e.g., Chen 2016) and succeed in doing so due to their extraverted and domineering behaviors (Grijalva et al., 2015). Although results have not yet proven conclusive, it has been proposed that leaders' narcissism is a precursor to harmful leadership (Krasikova et al., 2013). While some scholars (Waldman et al., 2018; Whitman et al., 2013) discovered a correlation between abusive supervision and a leader's narcissism, other authors (Nevicka et al., 2018; Wisse & Sleebos, 2016) did not find any such correlation. 

In recent years, interest in research (see Schyns et al., 2019) and public discourse concerning the so-called “dark side” of leadership has increased. Abusive supervision, which describes “the sustained display of hostile verbal and nonverbal behaviors, excluding physical contact” (Tepper, 2000, p. 178), is the construct that is typically studied in this context (Tepper et al., 2017). It entails severe negative outcomes for individuals and organizations.

"Prolonged use of negative leadership to influence followers undermines the followers’ will, initiative, and potential and destroys unit morale."                                    (Shufelt, J. W., and Clinton O)

An efficient manager or supervisor may ease your workload, give you vital updates, and make you feel supported. Unfortunately, not every employer makes an excellent leader for      their staff. There are tactics you can employ to make things better and handle the relationship as skillfully as possible if you  think your boss is bad.

You're exhausted. You're frustrated. You don't feel happy. You've lost motivation. You have a frosty interaction with your boss. Your supervisor is a ruler, obtrusive, controlling, selective, or small-minded.   You're urgently trying to figure out how to handle a terrible boss in a professional manner.

Organizations can avoid destructive leadership by having a greater awareness of the leader- and follower-related triggers of abusive supervision, as abusive supervision has a negative impact on both individuals and organizations. Indicators that your employer isn't the best The following indications point to a terrible boss

 

• If you are overworked, it doesn't bother them.

It's a warning sign if your manager expects you to put in excessive hours every day. It is one thing to have projects that need extra care, but it is not feasible to labor nonstop for months or years at a time.

• Your management doesn't welcome fresh suggestions.:

Effective leadership requires listening. And as time goes on, companies will value employee experience and being receptive to input even more. Listening not only builds rapport but also inspires workers and promotes creativity. Thus, if your supervisor is closed to criticism, it is bad for the team as a whole as well as for you and the other employees.

• They concentrate on the bad.

Unfit managers frequently talk about mistakes more than trying to solve them. In addition, they might solely provide negative feedback rather than praising or acknowledging an employee's achievements.

• Your supervisor claims credit for the job you've done.

According to a recent BambooHR survey, taking credit for employees' work is the worst conduct displayed by managers. For a variety of reasons, managers tend to claim credit for the labor of others. However, none of them can be accepted. You shouldn't put up with purposeful credit theft, regardless of the reason behind it.

•  They select their favorites.

 Some managers may have preferred employees. This can present issues if they allocate less work or give special treatment to these team members.

•  They frequently lose control.

It is unethical to yell at work, and no one should have to put up with an abusive employer. If your managFast, Nathanael J., and Serena Chen. "When the boss feels inadequate: Power, incompetence, and aggression." Psychological science 20.11 (2009): 1406-1413.er has frequent outbursts, it might be time to look for a another job or employer. However, if it only happens sometimes, you might be able to talk to them about the issue directly.

 

An effective manager or supervisor can help you feel supported, communicate important updates and make your work life easier. Unfortunately, not all bosses are great leaders for their employees. If you feel you're working with a bad boss, there are strategies you can use to improve your situation and navigate the relationship as successfully as possible.(Jennifer Herrity 2023)

Dealing Strategies With a Difficult Boss

A more adaptable professional can find methods to adjust and collaborate with a supervisor in spite of differences. You can handle challenging circumstances and interactions with your supervisor by following these guidelines and actions:

 

• Take the first step by realizing that you are entitled to a professional working environment. It is not you that is the issue. Your supervisor is awful. The issue is the bad manager. Taking care of them is necessary.

 

Some managers who don't seem to be doing a good job may be dealing with uncontrollable circumstances. Because of the limitations or demands placed on them by their own supervisors, they could be frustrated with each other. Situations outside of one's control, such as personal issues, can also influence attitudes and conduct at work. After a few days of observation, compare the things they accomplish well with the things they execute badly. When they do something awful, try to think of the most lenient explanation for how it could have happened. Think about if they are truly to blame for the issue or if it is beyond their control.

 When you have the chance, bring your boss's actions to the manager's attention in private rather than engaging in public conflict.

 

• Determine who inspires your employer. Gaining insight into the motivations behind your boss's actions and concerns can help you better understand their management style. If their expectations and standards seem excessive, try to understand why they have them. Perhaps your supervisor worries about the impression you're giving to superiors and coworkers, but doesn't really care how much time you spend on the phone.

 

• Remain Professional: Even if your supervisor acts in an unprofessional manner, keep your composure. Giving in kind will not improve the problem; on the contrary, it may get worse.

• Record All of Your Information: Dates, times, and specifics of any problematic behavior should all be noted in the log of interactions. If you wish to speak with HR about the matter or if you need to escalate the situation, this documentation may be helpful.

• Communicate Clearly: Attempt to resolve any difficulties directly with your supervisor, if at all possible. Select a moment when you know they will be open to hearing from you, then politely and gently voice your concerns. Instead of making personal attacks, concentrate on particular behaviors and how they affect your work.

• Make requests rather than offering criticism. It's possible that some managers won't accept criticism of their mistakes. Rather, articulate your needs and the benefits to the business along with your precise resource demands.

• Explore Your Options: Take some time to think about your options if things don't get better or worsen. This could entail exploring for chances elsewhere, moving to a different area within the organization, or even applying for a new position.

• Involve HR: Make an effort to contact HR for support if the behavior is serious or persistent. Their policies and procedures for managing conflicts at work are well-established, and they might be able to offer mediation or other forms of assistance.

• It's important to prioritize taking care of yourself, since managing a difficult boss can be emotionally taxing. Schedule time away from work for hobbies and pastimes that will help you relax ..

 

conclusion

 In conclusion, managing a challenging boss necessitates a careful balance of subtlety, resilience, and strategic preparation. Even though it could be tempting to respond in an emotional or combative manner, being professional and concentrating on finding solutions will ultimately produce better results. Not to mention, keep track of any instances of improper or misbehaving behavior, ask HR or upper management for assistance when required, and, if necessary, look into chances for personal development away from the toxic workplace. Proactively handling the situation might ultimately result in better job satisfaction and prospects for professional progress, either inside the existing organization or outside of it.If you are moving to a new organization, do your research to make sure you’re not jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Sometimes in our desperation to escape a toxic work environment we fail to take notice of the warning signs that the new job we're taking will only be worse.  Have a coffee with whoever you know at the new company to get a sense of the culture, employee engagement, moral, and management style. Investing a few hours up front could spare you a few years of frustration. (Dr. Margie Warrell 2014)

 

References

Fehn, Theresa, and Astrid Schütz. "How to Deal With a Difficult Boss."  Journal of Psychology  (2022).

Wang, Chun Mei, et al. "Influence of personality and risk propensity on risk perception of Chinese construction project managers." International Journal of Project Management 34.7 (2016): 1294-1304.

Krasikova, Dina V., Stephen G. Green, and James M. LeBreton. "Destructive leadership: A theoretical review, integration, and future research agenda." Journal of management 39.5 (2013): 1308-1338.

Shufelt, J. W., and Clinton O. Longenecker. "Practical lessons learned for dealing with toxic leaders and bad bosses." Military Review 2 (2017): 2-10.

Khizar, Hafiz Muhammad Usman, et al. "Bad bosses and despotism at workplace: A systematic review of the despotic leadership literature." Heliyon (2023).

Jennifer Herrity 2023 "how to deal with a bad boss(With signs)"

  Dr. Margie Warrell .2014 https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/

Bennett tepper .2000 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bennett-Tepper?Consequences of Abusive Supervision