“Is there some reason that my coffee isn’t here? Has she died or something?”
Okay, so maybe we’ll never have it as bad as Andy did in The Devil Wears Prada, but some days, you find yourself wondering if your boss is the carbon copy of the Cruella DeVille of the publishing industry, also known as Miranda Priestly, Editor-in-Chief of the fictional fashion magazine Runway. After all, there has got to be a law against ordering interns to make coffee runs in stilettos.
Until we find that in the rulebooks, though, your Miranda-clone boss is still going to be that “bad boss,” so we’ve rounded up some tips on how to deal with your predicament while keeping your sanity (and without losing your job).
Is your boss a “bad boss”?
A study cited by career expert Dr. Randall S. Hansen from QuintCareers.com found that nearly 80 percent of the employees surveyed identified their boss as a lousy manager.
Heather R. Huhman, a career expert and founder of the PR firm Come Recommended, says that for the recent grad in an entry-level position, the relationship between boss and young professional may not be as rewarding as expected.
“Unfortunately, internship and entry-level professionals may be more prone to encountering a ‘bad boss’ because of their inexperience with the working world and eagerness to gain experience in their field,” Huhman says. “Young professionals might encounter a boss who is a bully. They could work under someone who is inconsiderate or rude. They may also be in a situation where their boss is bad at communicating with their team, too demanding, or incompetent at their job.”
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…Or are you the problem?
So often we deflect responsibility that we don’t consider ourselves as the potential root of the problem — even Samantha Jones from Sex and The City can’t stand interns who are drama, and Samantha invented the word diva. That “it’s-not-me-it’s-you” attitude can get you into trouble, Hansen says.
“The first solution is an honest analysis of your actions and behavior. How have you been handling yourself in your job? Have you always taken the high road, or have you resorted to occasional backstabbing, gossiping, or underperforming?” Hansen asks. Even if your boss is less-than-perfect, he adds, you could be exacerbating the problem by allowing your boss to affect your performance. Instead, he suggests, focus your energy on your work rather than allow yourself to be distracted by your relationship with your boss, and see if doing so changes anything.
You should try and take a moment to consider the situation from the other side of the desk (i.e., your boss’s point-of-view). Your boss is busy with a day-to-day, jam-packed schedule approving pitches, meeting with co-workers and clients, and overseeing productivity. While you might think it’s menial to consolidate that report they gave you, stand at the printer and scan a hundred photocopies, or answer the phone all day, these seemingly menial administrative tasks all function in the greater picture of your company. Your boss shares a critical interdependence with you. And at the end of the day, someone has to consolidate that report, scan those photocopies, or answer that phone. Otherwise, your boss can never address his or her greater responsibilities.
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Managing the management situation
So you’ve determined that you’re not the office princess and you’ve done everything that’s been asked of you (and more). Your supervisors have you running their personal errands around town without as much as a thank-you, are micromanaging all of your projects and take the credit for all your work. You’re frustrated, demotivated, and worst of all, unhappy! What is a working collegiette™ to do?
Here are some real work-life experiences from collegiettes™ in laboratories, law firms, newsrooms and offices around the country, how they dealt with their “bad bosses” and how you can, too.
The Micro-Manager
“I used to work as a research assistant for our school’s biology lab, but the professor I worked for… he hardly let me actually work! He would supervise me pretty much over my shoulder. It made me feel like he didn’t trust me, like he expected me to mess up at any moment.”
— Miranda, graduate student from University of Massachusetts-Amherst
If your boss is peering over your shoulder, checking and re-checking your statements, or otherwise micro-managing, the best solution to the problem is talking to your boss about it. Be positive! Miranda advises that each time you receive a new assignment, ask about specifications and tell your boss that you will report back on a regular basis to receive feedback on your progress — and then stick to your end of the bargain. If you show your boss you know exactly what you’re doing and that you’ll come to her if you have any questions, she won’t feel the need to constantly look over your shoulder. Reiterate directions, ask questions, and make clarifications so she knows you understand just what she’s looking for. Establishing a bond of trust will be crucial to developing a positive relationship with your boss.
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The Ticking Time Bomb
“My former supervisor was literally, a ticking time bomb. She was almost always in a foul mood — hollering, being sarcastic, just going full-out ballistic sometimes! It put everyone in the work place on edge and even scared a customer or two. For a while, none of us really knew what to do about the situation.”
— Candace, sophomore from Saint Anselm College
The first thing you need to do is determine what is upsetting your boss. She could be stressed about work-related problems or she could be going through personal issues. Whatever the situation, ask yourself if you are doing anything to exacerbate the problem — at the end of the day, though you might not be able to change how others are, you have control over your own actions. Even if you feel like your boss’s anger is uncalled for, never, ever snap back at her. Communication is key — ask your boss if there is anything you can be doing differently, and be sure to let her know that you are always available should she need an extra hand. If you’re doing everything you can but your boss has not changed, the best thing you can do is learn how to read her mood and reactions, Candace says. You will know whether she is in a better mood after her first sip of coffee in the morning or at the end of the working day when she’s packing her bag to head home. There are times when you shouldn’t try to talk to your boss, pitch an idea, or otherwise bother her. When she’s preoccupied with ten different conference calls, it’s probably not the time to pitch your six-month improvement plan or to ask for that vacation. This is something that you will learn over time on a day-to-day basis, Candace says, but in the end, you’ll get the hang of how — and when — to communicate effectively.
The Perfectionist
“I think the worst boss I ever had was the editor from my journalism internship over the summer. She was a perfectionist and just expected too much of us in too short of time! She would assign us articles due sometimes only minutes before their deadline. Myself and a few other interns would stay several hours past 5 p.m. This was an internship through my school, which meant I was expected to work a full 40-hour work week, but certainly not over-time.”
— Julia, sophomore from the University of New Hampshire
Some bosses may be so busy thinking about the big picture that they forget the scope of the smaller details. To deal with a boss who might have unreasonable or downright unrealistic expectations, Julia says it’s important to speak up and make your boss aware of the problem. “I recorded my workload over a period of a work week and approached her, saying ‘Look, I’m concerned about not making deadline. Maybe you can help me,’” she says. Explain to your boss that shorter deadlines not only affect the quality of your work, but can also be impossible to meet regardless of time management. “My boss didn’t even realize the extent of the workload she was giving me,” Julia says. Your boss isn’t just there to tell you what to do — she’s there to help you, too, so let her know if you’re struggling! Communication is key — being honest with her will make both your jobs easier as well as maximize efficiency in the workplace.
The Credit-Taker
“I had a supervisor at the office that took a lot of credit for what was my team’s work. It made us feel kind of invisible.”
— Andrea, senior from Northwestern University
Observe how the company functions as a whole — when your boss is taking credit for the team’s work, it may be standard for her to serve as a representative of the team. Often times, recognition may also come in a more formal and professional manner at the conclusion of the project. If this doesn’t seem to be the custom and your boss is not giving credit where credit is due, Andrea advises an alternative that avoids confronting your boss altogether, because, after all, this isn’t your company. “What I did was I took advantage of my company’s employee-recognition program. When our team finished a project, we nominated it for recognition.” Doing this gives you and your co-workers proper recognition. If your company doesn’t have such a program, revert to the Golden Rule. In meetings or presentations, give credit to your boss and co-workers to set an example of how you would like to be recognized.
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The Favoritist
“I had a [boss] at the law firm I worked for a year ago who tended to play favorites. He loved brown-nosers. It wasn’t a big deal until the same guy who was noticeably a huge brown-noser, was getting appointed to all of the big cases and got special consideration when it came to a big promotion.”
— Jordyn, senior from the University of Rochester
One of the more common “bad bosses” a collegiette™ might encounter is the one that plays favorites. They choose their favorite subordinates for promotions and big assignments while they pay less attention to, or even worse, ignore other employees. Jordyn suggests trying to get to know your boss better. “Don’t kiss up to them,” she says. “Just ask how their kids are doing or even making that extra effort to say, ‘Good morning’ as you swing by their office in the morning. Just be friendly.” Doing so can make your boss feel more comfortable around you, which in turn may make her more likely to turn to you with additional assignments. Also, try what Jordyn did and ask your boss about your personal work performance such as, “I noticed that you rely a lot more on my co-worker than you do on me. Is there anything I can do to improve?” Asking for feedback from your boss shows that you care about personal progress and contributing to the company — your boss might not even know you’re looking to do more, so it’s important to make her aware of what you’re capable of!
So what if you work for an intolerably bad boss with no workplace resolution in sight?
If all else fails, you can arrange a meeting to talk with your boss and directly address your feelings. Most companies also have a hotline or an HR department you can speak with to address problems you may not be able to handle on your own. And your final ultimatum, Hansen says, may be to quit or not to quit. “Try not to quit before you find a new job,” he says. “But again, if work just becomes too unbearable, you may need to consider quitting to save yourself.” But this is a last resort, since as we’ve already seen, so many of these workplace situations can be resolved, and doing otherwise may jeopardize a future job search.
Working a full-time 9-to-5 shift for a bad boss can drive any collegiette crazy. But the best way to deal with a “bad boss” is to be the best employee you can be. Do what you say you’ll do. Don’t overplay your successes and ask for feedback when you’ve made mistakes. If you’ve made commitments, stick with them. Never blind side your manager with surprises that you could have prevented. Ask questions but don’t become a nag. Try to identify what makes a good employee in the eyes of your boss. A lack of communication is the fast track to a bad relationship with your employer. At the end of the workday, you are the one in charge of your work place relationships and realizing your “bad boss” might be a good one, after all.
Sources:
Heather R. Huhman, a career expert and founder of the PR firm Come Recommended
Dr. Randall Hansen, http://www.quintcareers.com/bad_bosses.html
Jordyn, senior from the University of Rochester
Andrea, senior from Northwestern University
Julia, sophomore from the University of New Hampshire
Candace, sophomore from Saint Anselm College
Miranda, graduate student from University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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