Sooner or later, everyone works for the manager from hell. Most of us have been there and many of us have even been there more than once! Here are some tips from MYCVandMe to help you to survive and thrive.

Ask for clear instructions - Bad bosses will give you work, never tell you exactly what they want and then they will give you into trouble if you don’t read their minds! Have a conversation with your boss at the start of a project to figure out what they expect from you.

Ask for feedback - Just as bad bosses won’t give you clear instructions, they also won’t give you feedback. It won’t be until you have a performance review that you find out that you haven’t been working up to their expectations. You should speak to your boss regularly and informally about your performance so that there are no surprises.
 

Give your bad boss feedback - When your boss is not managing you properly, try turning the tables and managing them. If your boss is doing something you want them to continue, give them a little positive reinforcement. If your boss does something that makes your job difficult, try your best to have a conversation about it.
 

Put everything in writing - Take notes at meetings, write and date everything and if you receive verbal instructions confirm them in an email with the deadlines to keep a paper trail. Document what your boss has said is expected of you. That way if your boss chooses to have a selective memory, you can remind them of what the expectations were. Also if there is anything inappropriate said or done document it so you’ve got a record.

Be a star performer - Having a bad boss isn’t an excuse to be a bad employee. One of the best ways to manage a bad boss is to be an unusually good employee. It’s harder for a boss to attack you if you’re doing a great job and smiling about it. Plus, acting happy can help you feel happier.

Develop a support network - Having a bad manager can be exhausting. Spend time with people you love and that make you feel good about yourself. There is more to life than working! Also, do you have a mentor? You should. This person can serve as a sounding board as well as a source of advice and support.

Pick your moments - Study your boss’s mood swings and patterns. Some times of the day are better than others. If lunch puts a smile on your boss’s face then schedule your meetings for the early afternoon.

Control what you can -You can’t control the behaviour of others, you can only control your response to it. So look past your boss’s tone and respond only to the substance of what he/she says. Keep your cool!

Know your rights - If your boss is illegally harassing you, you can speak to your company’s human resources department. Before you do this make sure you have the documentation, are able to describe what you’ve done to try to solve the problem and know what you are asking for e.g. a transfer.

Be Popular - Get to know other people in your company. Make sure the people who receive your work know you. Join and contribute information to professional organisations and online professional groups like LinkedIn. That way you will become well-known by name.

Be Better - Be a better person than your boss. Work toward advancing in your career and becoming a good boss, learning what not to do from your bad boss.

Hopefully our tips will improve your situation! If nothing changes, then it might be best to re-evaluate and leave your position. Life is too short! Talk to www.mycvandme.co.uk for career and interview coaching and CV writing with results!