Great bosses can help employees grow and thrive in the office. Bad bosses, on the other hand, can singlehandedly create a toxic work environment that can affect you long after you leave the office. In some cases, you may be dealing with an undermining boss or one who is unwilling or who doesn’t know how to lead. You could be dealing with a boss who micromanages his team to death and this is affecting your performance at work. Know how to succeed despite these kinds of bosses with these four tips.
Practice excellence consistently
Your boss is responsible for his actions and you’re responsible for yours. This is why instead of focusing on how his actions undermine your hard work, focus instead on doing your best in every single task. Consistent excellence is hard to ignore and this can help increase your visibility to the people who matter. Get things done on time, take on new challenges, be willing to volunteer, even if it means doing menial tasks. This is a sure way to let your reputation of efficiency and excellence speak for you.
Get the opinion of people who matter
Working for a bad boss who constantly puts you down or undermines your efforts can take a toll on your self-esteem and may cause you to question your competence. In times like these, it is best to seek the advice of people who know whether you are doing a good job or not. Build networks with co-workers and relationships with superiors who are willing to support you. You may need to get out of your comfort zone in order to seek new relationships with co-workers and colleagues, but this will pay off. Find a mentor who can give objective, clear feedback and use this as your gauge when evaluating your performance, if your boss is unwilling to be objective about your work.
Have an exit plan
Sometimes, bad bosses can make a working environment so toxic that you have no choice but to leave. In cases like these, it is best to have an exit plan handy. Seek out other opportunities in other companies or even other departments. It won’t hurt to start doing this once you have established that your boss may be the undermining, toxic type, even when you don’t have any concrete plans to leave. Having an exit plan can come in handy when you feel ready enough to leave. An exit plan can be the ideal solution if you can afford to leave your job or if the current situation is negatively affecting your career and other areas of your life.
Bad bosses exist in most workplaces but it doesn’t mean that you have no choice but to put up with them. Be proactive about your own performance, surround yourself with a supportive network, and be ready to go when it’s time to leave. All these can help you get through this phase in your career and teach you how to handle similar challenging bosses and co-workers in the future.
At Four Business solutions, our success is built on values like trust, teamwork and vision. We believe that people are at the heart of any business. That’s why everything we do starts with a conversation. To find out more about our services, simply give us a call on 0800 6250 025.