5 Really Useful Tips For Dealing With Toxic Bosses At Work

According to a Gallup research, 75% of employees in the U.S. leave managers and not companies. That isn’t surprising because while poor pay structures, stagnant jobs, and stunted growth are some reasons people quit jobs, dealing with a toxic and condescending boss at work can get extremely challenging.

Considering you spend more than half of your day at your workplace, having a toxic boss not only hinders productivity but is also detrimental to your mental well-being.

To help you out, here are some of the most useful tips for dealing with toxic bosses.

Do your job well

Be observant and keep a check on all the things that irk your boss and you’ll surely find a pattern. Do your job to the best of your ability and make conscious efforts to refrain from giving your boss any reason to point fingers at you.

The best way to stay out of trouble is to effectively communicate with your boss. Make sure you give timely updates, have a solution-driven approach, and don’t shy away from asking questions.

See Also: The Importance of Meeting the Boss Regularly

Respond professionally

Thanks to a difficult boss, you might often find yourself at the receiving end of numerous insults and unreasonable outbursts. However, shouting back is the worst way to deal with it. While you may have the urge to argue, remember that it never ends well and only makes matters worse.

In the middle of an outburst, if you start getting anxious, take a minute to calm down and approach the situation with maturity and grace. It’s always safe to remain calm and respond in a professional manner rather than losing your cool.

Take the learnings

When you stop complaining about your boss’ difficult behavior, you realize that even this unpleasant situation has a silver lining. Apart from learning how NOT to be, there is a lot more you learn by dealing with a toxic boss.

Bad bosses help you toughen up and become more resilient. If taken in the right spirit, they can motivate you to do better and perform well under pressure. While it is easier said than done, these are essential soft skills that can take you a long way in the corporate world.

See Also: 9 Traits of a Great Leader

Think long-term

Amid all the workplace drama, it is natural to forget the bigger picture and lose focus on your job. Yes, your boss makes coming to work a nightmare, but nothing is worth running your career over.

Bosses are transient and should not drive you to take decisions that can prove to be detrimental to your career. Keep your eyes on the end goal and don’t let everyday office politics deter you from reaching your destination. Once you are out of this situation, you will be glad you were patient enough to not derail.

Don’t take it personally

Last but not the least, do not let your boss’ behavior affect your self-esteem and confidence. Their behavior is a result of their own shortcomings and what they say in a fit of anger certainly does not define you.

The best way to deal with your boss’ undue criticism is to be emotionally detached. Form a strong support system at work with whom you can discuss your workplace frustrations. The last thing you want is to take the negativity at work back home and have it ruin your personal life.

Everyone comes across bad bosses at some point in their lives. You can either spend your time whining and let their behavior demotivate you or deal with it maturely and take it in your stride.

While these tips will help you deal with your toxic boss, remember to speak up and escalate matters if your boss’ behavior is getting out of hand. If you ever find yourself to be a victim of verbal abuses, racial discrimination or sexual harassment, you should immediately report it to the human resources department because you have all the rights to.