Is Your Boss making You uncomfortable on the Job?
I met a very old friend last week and we had a good chat over a cup-of-coffee at CCD where I love to enjoy sitting around whenever I want to relax and meet someone who can make interesting conversation. I met my friend after a long time and in our conversation, he mentioned, his daughter is feeling terribly frustrated on the job especially because her BOSS who makes her feel small in front of other colleagues and on every small issue.
Well, I asked him, how long is this going on with her? And he said, about last six months. He said, he notes all her movements, and whenever he gets a chance, he humiliates her. He said, she has become a mental wreck and feels completely down and out. Her personal nature has changed, she hardly talks to us or friends and generally quiet.
Now this is a typical bullying BOSS who is trying to make his position strong with his team and does not want any threat around and does not want anyone better efficient than him around. Anyone smart around who can make him feel inferior or an ass, he or she is watchful and the idea is to tame you around or make you feel inferior, to destroy your confidence level and even to give you message that you are not wanted here and you may go.
Such bosses work on these lines because they are not professionals in their work nor are they good managers. They are there in the position just because either they have some God Father sitting above them taking care of them ( who also is not professional) or they know how to please their higher-ups with out-of-the-way favors and manage to stick to the job with the skills of sycophancy. Most Indian managements and managers work in organizations on these lines and then those who do not fall in line with them, they simply start making their lives miserable so that you finally quit.
But YOU should not quit. Don’t quit. Never, never, never, never, never!
I was telling my friend, what such incompetent bosses want is that the person either falls in line with them or QUITS. And either way they are happy. So quitting is surely not the solution I always advice in my mentoring to youngsters.Have you heard this saying?
When going is tough, Tough GETS Going! Go by this principle.
Understand this well, for no one it is an easy cake walk initially on the job at entry-level or even in the new organization. When you are new in the organization, I have seen, even your fellow workers, colleagues act nasty right from day one and try to isolate you or outcast you. It is your personal skills that you must engage to make friendly relations with everyone around in the office. Your excellent communication skills, your friendly approach, and your personal attitude helps you break the ice and gradually when the colleagues see you open and friendly they too change their attitudes and approach.
It all depends upon YOU as a person how you look at new situation and how you react…
But if you feel you are treated badly every time for no reason whatsoever, your BOSS is trying to drive you out because you are not falling in line with him or her and you must watch your back. Such Bosses are known to be insensitive and crooks and they go out out-of-the-way to hurt your interest.
What alternative or options do you have or can consider?
I recommend first when you see your Boss is little difficult to deal with, DO NOT GO AGAINST HIM. Finally a boss is a boss and your boss can manipulate on many fronts to discredit you and hurt your image.
So your lesson number one is… take the orders from boss and execute them faithfully without any questions. Like, in Army, orders given by the Squadron leader, or Marshal or a Commander-in-Chief is final. Soldiers are supposed to follow it in letter and spirit. No questions asked and no arguments entertained. On the ship, Captain’s orders are final. Because he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ship and the ca dates have to execute his orders in toto.
In the corporate world too , management works the same ways. Your Boss is answerable to his higher-ups and the higher-ups are to top management. Every one in this chain is responsible to deliver what is their part of the role in this chain. You are also a part of this chain and your out-put and performance is directly related to the performance and responsibility of your Boss. If you fail in your role, your Boss fails and if you understand this dynamic well, you must follow the instructions of your boss unless if you feel you have a better suggestion and if you think, , the management style of functioning, and that of your Boss personal style of working is open, and encouraging, Go Ahead!
Give your valuable suggestions because some bosses are encouraging and allow subordinates to work with certain degree of freedom on the job. But if that is not the case according to your experience, DO NOT become adventurous. Your Boss may feel, you are trying to prove him/her wrong if your boss is not a professional. Just leave it at that and in such a situation only work there to get maximum BAD EXPERIENCE which will add to your knowledge and in your next job, you can put to use with a positive perspective.
The bottom line is… if you get a nasty Boss, unreasonable Boss, unprofessional Boss, you can work with him without getting frustrated. You only need to understand his style of working and start enjoying your job.
Tips on what to do and what not to do .
1- Show respect to your boss totally even if you feel otherwise about his/her competence level.
2- Do Not ever show doubts about his/her professional abilities.
3- Always have a friendly approach and an approach of understanding of his/her responsibilities.
4- If and when you want to give your suggestions, excuse yourself first and make it sound a suggestion that can improve upon results and may save cost and time too. When the boss is in a corner and he is pressurized to get something done quickly by his higher-ups, he is willing to listen to any suggestion that can solve the situation and deliver results.
5-Do not ever take your Boss for granted. Keep that distance which will keep him guessing about you all the time with some degree of respect. Many Bosses do not like loose talk and too much chatter.
6- Never talk against your boss to any of your colleagues, co-workers and about your co workers to your boss. It is not following fair practices as a professional on the job. It many times back fires on you. The most wrong way to impress upon your Boss. There are Bosses who like it and majority of Bosses like such feed backs. But don’t get involved in such bad mouthing. It will one day come back to you in full circle.
7- Always project yourself as a co-operative worker, who is willing to go extra mile.
8- Take initiative, work with passion and make a difference to add value to your job and your company.
9- Your personal behavior with other colleagues must be excellent, friendly and helping.
10- Do not get involved into gossips, arguments and personal fights. Always be pleasant, with positive talk and mind your own work without wasting time and without wasting others time.
11- Don’t be a critic of other co-workers. Let your Boss decide who is good and who is poor in performance.
12- You can make positive contributions, positive in-puts to improve working standards, efficiency and quality. This attitude and approach is always appreciated by your superiors and get rewarded too.
13- Never threaten your Boss of quitting your job if you don’t get raise or promotion or incentive. Threats are not positive actions and therefore do not work and managements do not like to work under threats. A reasonable discussion with the boss at the right time and right place is fine with a modesty and reasoning why do you think,you deserve more.
14- Finally, building good relations with your Boss and also with your colleagues is good approach to be successful in your professional life.
This world is willing to go with you with a smile if you too make a difference in others lives by making them happy. It does not cost you to be friendly, positive and warm in building human relationships in this world. It is in fact a basis for successful living, in personal as well as professional life.
Remember… Nothing great was ever achieved without New Approach!
WIN over people and you will win everyone, your boss too! Remember, YOU can not change your Boss, YOU need to change your approach.
Ajay Angre
Author, Writer, Publisher
Perspective Consultant and
Consultant in Creative Direction
