DEALING WITHA DIFFICULT BOSS

Mr. Loomis

Chatham High School

Career and College Ready Learning Series

Learning Objectives• Identify behaviors of

difficult bosses

• Describe proactive approaches to be able to work with a difficult boss

• Explain when it’s time to move on

Pre-Test!

1. Which of the following is NOT a sign of a difficult boss?a. plays favorites

b. gives little training

c. asks you to work weekends

d. Does not appreciate workers

Answers will be given at the end of the presentation.

See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss.

Pre-Test!

2. Which would be an acceptable method of reaction when dealing with a verbally abusive boss?

a. Give some of his/her own medicine – YELL BACK

b. Do nothing. Just take the abuse.

c. Call the police.

d. Discuss with human resources

Answers will be given at the end of the presentation.

See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss.

Pre-Test!

3. When is it time to move on and give your notice?a. If it is within the first month of work

b. Despite your complaints, your boss still treats you unfairly

c. Only after you have worked there for a year

d. After the boss apologizes

Answers will be given at the end of the presentation.

See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss.

Check out this video on Dealing With a Difficult Boss

Click Picture Above

Difficult Bosses:• Destroy Self Confidence• Are Verbally Abusive• Take Advantage of Employees’

Dedication • Lower Morale• Decrease Productivity• Make Unreasonable Demands

Difficult Bosses:• Increase Workplace

Stress • Impact Employees’ Dignity• Mistrust Employees• Break Promises• Don’t Communicate Well• Threaten Punishment

Difficult Bosses:• Play Favorites• Micro-Manage • Sexually Harass Employees• Don’t Provide Adequate

Training• Don’t Appreciate Employees• Don’t Recognize Employee

Accomplishments

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

#1: Meet with your boss• Find out what s/he expects

and needs from you and• How you can meet those

expectations and needs 

#2: Keep a detailed written record

• When did it happen? • Where were you at the time? • What did your boss say to you? • How did you respond? • What happened next? 

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

#3: Report harassment• If you are cursed at,

threatened, physically or sexually harassed, or otherwise being treated abusively

• Take your written record to human resources and your boss's manager. 

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

#4: Be Professional• Don't blow up, slink away, or

whatever else you instinctively do when people are angry at you.

• Losing control makes you look bad, and walking away makes you look like you're challenging your supervisor's authority. 

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

#5: Talk to your boss • Tell her/him how it makes you

feel.• Avoid defensiveness by

introducing your statements with "You may not be aware . . ." or "You may not realize . . ." or

"You may not intend . . ."

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

#6: Record accomplishments• Record your accomplishments

either weekly, monthly, or yearly• When you have a performance

review, you can give specific reasons for deserving that raise.

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

• #7: Get advice• Talk with a someone you

trust outside of your workplace.

• They might have dealt with a boss similar to yours and can give you some great advice.

7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss

It Is Time To Quit When…• Unreasonable stress level

• Unethical employer activities

• Despite your complaints, you are still treated unfairly

• Your relationship with your boss is damaged beyond repair.

Test Review

1. Which of the following is NOT a sign of a difficult boss?a. plays favorites

b. gives little training

c. asks you to work weekends

d. Does not appreciate workers

ANSWER: (c) Asking to work weekends by itself does not mean that the boss is a difficult one.

See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss.

Test Review

2. Which would be an acceptable method of reaction when dealing with a verbally abusive boss?

a. Give some of his/her own medicine – YELL BACK

b. Do nothing. Just take the abuse.

c. Call the police.

d. Discuss with human resources

ANSWER: (d) Keep a record of things that were said and discuss with human resources.

See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss.

Test Review

3. When is it time to move on and give your notice?a. If it is within the first month of work

b. Despite your complaints, your boss still treats you unfairly

c. Only after you have worked there for a year

d. After the boss apologizes

ANSWER: (b) If things continue, even after you have documented occurrences and discussed with human resources, it may be time to find a better workplace environment elsewhere.

See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss.

Assignment

• Create a survey about bosses on www.surveymonkey.com

• Find out: – What percentage of people had ever had a difficult boss– What most people consider are the qualities of a bad boss– Best ways to deal with a boss who is difficult– When it is time to give your notice.

• For extra credit, have 10 adults take your survey and report to the class your findings.

References• 1997, 1998 Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University

http://www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/boss.htm

• Quiz: Can You Handle a Bad Boss?http://quiz.ivillage.com/work/tests/badbossquizNEW.htm

• Bad Bosses and How to Handle ThemBy BARBARA MOSESGlobe & Mail May 6, 2002http://humanresources.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbmcareerdev.com%2Fbad_bosses.html

• Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job By Susan M. Heathfield

http://humanresources.about.com/library/weekly/aa031203c.htm