Having a demanding Boss is one of the challenges any employee could face in a workplace but your ability to manage your Boss will give you people management skills.
These are the things you must put into consideration when you come across one.
- First accept that all jobs are demanding
- Put your self in your Boss’s shoes and you will understand why he is under undue pressure.
- Being demanding could be part of their own Management Culture and learning from it can help you lead differently.
- Your Boss could have Anger Management issues or may be going through rough patches of life.
- Your Boss could be incompetent and in the bid to cover up saddles you with so much tasks that are his or that are unrealistic.
- Or simply put your boss is a natural Bully.
When you are faced with issues like this, you may handle them as they come but first:
- Don’t take it personal, your Boss is helping you become a better manager sooner. It is possible that your Boss has penchant for success and failure is not in her dictionary.
- Understand why your Boss is demanding: do you have issues with him? Or this is just him?
- Seek for an audience with your Boss, be dispassionate, inquire what is expected of you and how he/she wants it done, Your Boss will be happy you followed instructions and deliver.
- Make it a habit to record your meetings with your boss, listen to it , do a mail highlighting all tasks given to you for confirmation and approval. Your Boss might even have a change of mind seeing the tasks are enormous while some may not be realistic.
- Document. Document. Document: protect yourself ahead of trouble. Keep all approvals safe, possibly copy your personal emails
- Prioritise your tasks with timelines: Make them SMART. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound.Ask for support where you need one.
- Stay Positive: Calm and committed. No Boss likes negative Vibes or Complains
- Be a Problem Solver: Don’t add to your Boss’s headache, If you are unable to meet your deadlines let him or her know on time, the reasons why and solutions to mitigate the crisis.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Praise your Boss when you see him/her in a good mood, let your focus be on achievements in meeting Business or organisational goals, not hair, tie or makeup. Ask for a tip or two, you will be amazed that behind that wall of steel is a human.
- You can ask for redeployment to another unit to protect your self.
- In all that you do, don’t go above your Manager. You don’t want to see another side of your boss. If you have a very bad case, escalate, copy your manager so that it will not appear as if you have ulterior motive. Be dispassionate and clearly articulate your case. You either win or lose but when it gets to this stage, start looking for another job.
- Your Mental Health must not be threatened, rather quit.
- In future: Avoid future Bad bosses, do your due diligence before moving to another organisation to avoid jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.