DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT BOSS

1. DEALING WITHA DIFFICULT BOSS Mr. Loomis Chatham High School Career and College Ready Learning Series

2. 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

3. Pre-Test! See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss. • Which of the following is NOT a sign of a difficult boss? • plays favorites • gives little training • asks you to work weekends • Does not appreciate workers Answers will be given at the end of the presentation.

4. Pre-Test! See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss. 2. Which would be an acceptable method of reaction when dealing with a verbally abusive boss? • Give some of his/her own medicine – YELL BACK • Do nothing. Just take the abuse. • Call the police. • Discuss with human resources Answers will be given at the end of the presentation.

5. Pre-Test! See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss. 3. When is it time to move on and give your notice? • If it is within the first month of work • Despite your complaints, your boss still treats you unfairly • Only after you have worked there for a year • After the boss apologizes Answers will be given at the end of the presentation.

6. Check out this video on Dealing With a Difficult Boss Click Picture Above

7. Difficult Bosses: • Destroy Self Confidence • Are Verbally Abusive • Take Advantage of Employees’ Dedication • Lower Morale • Decrease Productivity • Make Unreasonable Demands

8. Difficult Bosses: • Increase Workplace Stress • Impact Employees’ Dignity • Mistrust Employees • Break Promises • Don’t Communicate Well • Threaten Punishment

9. Difficult Bosses: • Play Favorites • Micro-Manage • Sexually Harass Employees • Don’t Provide Adequate Training • Don’t Appreciate Employees • Don’t Recognize Employee Accomplishments

10. 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 

11. 7 Tips for Working for a Difficult Boss #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?

12. 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. 

13. 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. 

14. 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 . . ."

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Test Review See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss. • Which of the following is NOT a sign of a difficult boss? • plays favorites • gives little training • asks you to work weekends • Does not appreciate workers ANSWER: (c) Asking to work weekends by itself does not mean that the boss is a difficult one.

19. Test Review See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss. 2. Which would be an acceptable method of reaction when dealing with a verbally abusive boss? • Give some of his/her own medicine – YELL BACK • Do nothing. Just take the abuse. • Call the police. • Discuss with human resources ANSWER: (d) Keep a record of things that were said and discuss with human resources.

20. Test Review See if you can answer these three questions about dealing with a difficult boss. 3. When is it time to move on and give your notice? • If it is within the first month of work • Despite your complaints, your boss still treats you unfairly • Only after you have worked there for a year • 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.

21. 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.

22. 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, 2002 http://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