Dealing with a Challenging Boss | by Jessica Okonkwo
At some point in your career, you are going to come across a challenging boss. Although dealing with a challenging boss can be really difficult, opting out and quitting your job may not always be the best call. There are various different professional ways to manoeuvre your way around the situation, even if you are an apprentice or early on in your career!
The first and most important thing to do is take a step back, figuratively speaking of course. Why? Because you need perspective! Without perspective, you will always be under the assumption that your boss has it out for you when in some instances, this isn't actually the case. So I advise you to take a step back and try to understand where he/she may be coming from. You have to remember that your boss is also an employee, and comes to work just like you. He/She may very well be facing the same demands as you. Try to detect the difference, is your boss simply under a great deal of demand, or are they actively being negative towards you?
With that said, learn to control your emotions. Remember, you don't have to have an opinion on everything. Some things are just not in your control, stressing, getting upset or frustrated about it, changes nothing but your mood. Let's look at it this way. It’s raining today. There are two ways you can handle this event: Either have a reaction and decide not to go to work or head to the gym and be grumpy and sad because it's not sunny. OR… you can choose to have no opinion on the fact it's raining because it's outside of your control. You can just put your raincoat on or grab an umbrella, and continue your day, without your mood being affected. Now let's bring it back into perspective. Your boss is shouting at you. You can decide how to feel about it. Despite not being able to control how they are treating you, it's up to you to decide how to respond. Now, I know that's easier said than done, but it's worth slowly putting into practice.
Avoid bad-mouthing your boss to coworkers! Discussing your boss with someone is important, express your emotions and how you feel. However do it with the right people, maybe a friend outside of the business, even better, your Multiverse coach, or even a family member. Discussing your boss with current employees will not only leave a bad taste and come back to you, but it creates negativity in the space which is what you are trying to avoid.
Try to anticipate things and take initiative. The more time you spend under their management, the more you learn about their habits and patterns. If you are able to anticipate their needs, you can avoid exacerbating the tension in your relationship. Try to meet and better yet, exceed their expectations of you. Not only will this impress them, but it will show you are a diligent employee and you respect them. This can easily turn a negative situation into a more relaxed and trustworthy relationship.
I know it can be super hard when you're in the situation, but I hope these tips are able to help you despite how unique your circumstances may be! In some cases, it might be a good idea to reach out to the multiverse support team to get extra guidance on how to navigate your situation!
Jessica Okonkwo is in the Data Fellowship programme at Multiverse and is writing for the Apprentice Lens. Here's more about her:
"Who said a college dropout can't land their dream job? Take it from me, you can! Follow me on my Multiverse apprenticeship journey where I'll write articles that provide you with practical measures you can take to land your apprenticeship and succeed both personally and professionally."