Let’s face it – not all bosses are nice, humble, and sensitive. If you are having the worst luck at work, you may have a type of boss that is mean, arrogant, and ignorant of their staffs. But still, no matter how lucky you get, there will be moments where you will encounter a brick wall when dealing with your manager. Sometimes, more so if they are not in a pleasant mood, they just don’t listen to what you have to say, no matter how important it could be. It’s hard to work with a person who’s not on the same page as you. So what should be our response whenever we have to deal with a boss that is unreasonable?
1) Prepare!
First off, familiarize yourself with the personality of your boss. Take note of the things that cheer him up and tick him off. Always be ready to present your case at the right place and at the right time. Unless the information is urgent, don’t approach him if he is in a hurry of finishing something; no one likes to lose their train of thought. If he still gets irritated even though you did nothing wrong, just give him a sincere apology and a promise to do better next time. Talking back could make things much, much worse, which brings me to my second point.
2) Be Polite
Retaliation from your mean boss will surely ensue if you are cocky and disrespectful. Conflict in the workplace will only slow down the progress of your team. Maybe you can take the hurtful words, but what if one day you set his temper off when he’s in the mood to dire someone for good? Control yourself and be as respectful and polite as you can be. Be confident in the way you converse with your boss and avoid being unreasonably pushed around. Ensure that your confidence is accompanied by firmness, but do not overdo it as it may spark an outburst for both parties!
3) Take things professionally
Never let your mean boss affect your feelings. Taking things personally will just worsen the situation. All communication with him should include the presence of honesty and the absence of pride. Do not ever attempt to save yourself by falsely putting the blame on others that you hate – ever heard of Karma? Focus on yourself, the boss, and the scenario at hand; talk things out in a respectful manner until the two of you land on the same page. Rejections and disagreements are common things from an unreasonable boss, so remind yourself to never take those things personally. Just accept the fact that there are no perfect bosses and be ready always to present your case using valid reasons.
4) Be at your best at work
This is perhaps a preventive measure and worth following to avoid any unnecessary arguments with your Unreasonable Boss. Ensure to memorize by heart the company’s mission and vision, including all the rules that your boss have implemented. Stay safe, be efficient in your work and you should be just fine. Who knows? Your great performance might do some good to your boss’s frame of mind! Show hi how effective you can be and hope he reciprocates in a nice way!
5) Set Limits
There is no such thing as a permanent boss. It is very important to know your limits as you are not a mindless machine that can perform without halt. If your nice, reasonable, and peaceful approach is futile, then that is the time to consult with your other bosses or superiors. If you can get your workmates to join forces with you to present a case against the terror boss, then do so. This is a scary scenario, but rather than being abused and emotionally or professionally damaged, it is better to act and face your worst fears. Hopefully a common ground can be established between you and the boss, but if things turn hellish, internalize and make a decision of whether to adjust or to finally let go and look for another job in the hopes of having a much better manager.
Follow these five guides to increase chances of having a harmonious and peaceful relationship with your unreasonable superior. Again, prevention is better than cure so be at your best every day and follow all rules and policies to avoid clashes with the man!
