7 Ways to Deal With Your Boss and Their Bossy Attitude

They’re a bully, they’re controlling, and they’re uptight. You are weary, you are frustrated, and you are tired. What do you do when you are at your last straw? Well, look no further. Here are some handy ways to deal with a difficult employer that are sure to make your work life much easier.

Step Into Their Shoes for a Moment

Try and understand your boss’s reasons for having a “bossitude”. They could be overwhelmed with the responsibility of being a manager, for instance. Maybe they lack the training needed to make your workplace run like a well-oiled machine. Maybe they feel insecure in their position and thus micromanage your work. Try to understand the psychology behind their reasons for having a bad temper, and you might just sympathize with them, and thus try to make a better effort to please them.

Take Deep Breaths

Never let it affect your attitude and take the high road. Don’t let their attitude be an excuse for your own. Remember, you want to stay on good terms with the other leaders in your workplace, your boss’s boss, or even their boss, perhaps. Don’t feel entitled to slack off, lose interest, and work slow just because your manager is a sourpuss. Remain upbeat, optimistic and a hard worker. Handling a difficult boss can really set you apart from your colleagues. Remember to always maintain a calm and professional exterior, even if you’re seething and itching to shout back on the inside.

Talk it Out

If your boss is criticizing every work of yours, instead of confronting them, try to ask questions gently instead. Discuss your concerns. This is like a marriage. You want to make this relationship that may very well be long term a good one. This will not only help you understand their perspective but also help you convey your apprehensions.

Know Exactly What They Expect

Coming back to the marriage point, try and take some tips from couples counseling. Instead of fighting as an instinctive reaction, again, discuss both of your concerns, your needs and wants. Discuss what is expected of you, because once you know that, you’ll be able to anticipate their needs, which makes for a better employee.

Watch and Learn

Know their preferences. Observe their leadership and decision-making skills. Are they ponderous, thinking over each and every detail in a very careful manner? Or do they prefer to make quick, fast-paced decisions? What method of communication suits them best? Knowing all of these little details will make the world of a difference in your relationship with your boss and might help you avoid a bossy attitude.

Make Sure You Are Heard

Stand up to them and don’t be bullied. You have the right to work in a professional environment without someone breathing down your neck or doing the complete opposite: not caring at all. Again, discuss your concerns about their attitude. You never know, they might just listen. But keep in mind, every time you let them yell at you, you are letting them know that they can get away with this type of behavior. Don’t shout back or confront them with open hostility. Just remain calm and professional and demand your right to a professional work environment.

Let it Out

Rely on your support system. Vent your frustrations out with them, not on them. If you have a colleague who’s in the same boat as you, commiserate with them. You never know, it might just be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Two is better than one, after all. Don’t suffer in silence; ask for help at times. Inquire around the office about your boss’s preferences, and you might just get some valuable feedback.

All these factors will surely help you get started on the journey to building a healthier work relationship with your boss. But remember, if all else fails, there is always another company out there looking for a motivated employee like you. You are sure to find an organization that fits you best.