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Are you the boss they’re trying to deal with?
You love the team you work with, even love the work you do, but if you could just report to someone else, life and work would be easier. Forbes says 2 million Americans quit their jobs annually. Payscale.com says 87.2% of employees want to quit their job because of their boss. If this is you these four fast ways to deal with a difficult boss will help. If you’re the boss they’re all complaining about, make sure to register for the webinar at the bottom of this post. It’s an hour you may NOT have to spend hiring a whole new team.
Schedule an Appointment
In many organizations what is promoted are those who get it done or those who get it right. In terms of emotional intelligence and one personality assessment used, the CORE Snapshot refers to them as the Commander and Organizer preferences. Both operate off of a list and if you’re not on it, you’re not getting done or the right person to talk to at this time. Make an appointment for minimal interruption and less stress on their schedule, not to mention less stress aimed at you.
Get to the Point
Right or wrong, often Type A, driven, ambitious and competitive leaders want you to get to the point. If these are the behaviors most often promoted into management, chances are good you report to someone who has them. The faster you get to the point, the faster they know what to do with that information and that is nearly always the question lurking in their mind. A lengthy explanation, unless it includes action items is hard for them to process, particularly when under stress, and no matter the intended outcome will usually result in a negative response to your lengthy request.
Speak Up
Just because your boss hands you three projects that all take an hour and expects them all to be completed in fifteen minutes, doesn’t mean you need to learn how to work miracles and suddenly juggle hoops of fire unless miracle worker is part of your career aspirations. Some things simply take time and many bosses forget how much time or how much they’ve given you. Speak up by asking “Out of these three projects, which one is top priority?” so you know how to meet their expectations. You will gain clarity and they’ll receive a jog to their memory about what all they’ve just assigned.
Stay Fascinated
If you drive you know the feeling of being cut off. Some say creative hand gestures help you show that frustration, but to whom. More importantly, who hears you? Who pays for being frustrated? Ever cut someone else off and wave in the mirror only to say “sorry!” Most just do what they do, just like you and have little or no knowledge of their impact on your day. It wasn’t about you or your day. In fact, very little is about you and if you stay fascinated, instead of frustrated you might even giggle when fascinated at how one boss can be such a jerk, or one driver can be so oblivious. Giggling is better than “Googling” for a new job when your frustrations get you cut off …of the team.
Not sure if you’re this boss? Positive I’m talking about YOUR boss and need more ideas? Register now for the upcoming webinar What Every Boss Needs in Order to Lead During the Holiday, December 17th at 1:30 EST.
I’m Monica Wofford and that’s your Monday Moment. Have a great week, an even better Monday, and of course, stay contagious!
