If your boss is driving you crazy, it might be time to try some different tactics.
Office life can be tough, especially when most companies are short staffed and employees have been asked to work longer hours, take pay cuts and work harder than ever before. It is expected that along with the extra stress, there will be tension between co-workers that can turn simple disagreements into more serious battles.
But when the person you have the most conflict with is your boss, it can leave you daydreaming about finding another job. Right after you punch him in the mouth. Of course, I am not advocating workplace violence. In fact, if you find yourself dreaming of telling your boss off, you may need to take a step back and look for ways to improve your relationship. Here are a few tips to help:
- Have lunch with your boss – When your professional relationship is strained, try increasing your social interaction with your supervisor. Sometimes just having a moment to chat and realize that you are both on the same team can help diffuse some tension and make your working relationship better.
- Look for a mentor – Sometimes it helps to get an outside look at the problem. For many people, having a career coach or mentor helps to identify areas where they need to improve. Remember that most conflicts are the result of misunderstandings. Be sure to be open minded about any feedback and accept your part of the blame for any arguments you have had with your boss.
- Talk your co-workers – This isn't as simple as finding someone else who is unhappy and gossiping about your common dislike of the boss. That behavior isn't productive and it doesn't even make you feel better. Instead, find co-workers who have a good relationship with your supervisor and try to find out why they get along. This might help you find new things to appreciate about your supervisor.
- Talk to your Human Resources department – If you still can't find a way to get along with your boss, you may want to talk to HR. Be sure to make your approach about trying to find a solution rather than complaining or wanting to get your boss in trouble. Your HR may be able to help you find middle ground between you and your boss.
- Transfer within your company – If you work for a large company, this might be a great solution. If you are feeling burnt out and have no more patience to work things out with your boss, transferring to another department may be the change you need. Just be sure that the problem isn't with you, otherwise you will be just taking your problem with you as you move.
In this job market, it's important not to let yourself get to the point where you want to just quit your job without another one lined up. While that may work for some people, you would still need a sizable financial cushion to get you through until you find a new job. Before you quit, make sure that you have done everything you possibly can in order to make the situation better.
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What things have you done to make working with a boss you don't like easier? How did it work?
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for RetailGigsBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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