How To Deal With A Nightmare Boss

It can happen to anyone. there's a change in the organization and -- suddenly -- you find yourself working for the boss from Hell. Arrogant, demanding, ignorant, bullying and insensitive. Do you leave right away? Do you fight back? Here are some tried and tested ways of coping with impossible bosses -- and coming out on top.

1. Find ways to boost your confidence

This is the single most important indicator of success. Asshole bosses typically work to undermine your self-confidence the whole time. Don't allow this to happen. Recite your strengths back to yourself. Keep notes of accomplishments. Celebrate every success.

2. Don't collude

Start looking for the subtle ways you hold yourself back by colluding with the asshole boss. When you find them, stop them at once. It's too easy to accept the negatives and try to avoid pain by selling yourself short. Don't do it -- EVER.

3. Establish a "territory" and control entry

Make sure you show your job is important. The establishment of a "territory", part physical, part psychological shows others that you see your job as important. Treat it that way yourself and make sure others do so as well. The aim is to make others take you seriously as someone who does something important -- even vital -- to the future of the organization and it's business.

4. Be your own advocate

Don't explain your ideas to your asshole boss and let him take them to the people who matter. You can be sure he'll imply he thought them up himself and will take all the credit. Make sure you present your own ideas. Try informal meetings at first -- invite a few people (plus your boss) to "help you" with something you're trying to sort out. Make use of opportunities of formal meetings as well. Don't try to undermine or obviously bypass your boss. Just come out with the bones of the idea and make sure people know it's yours. If he tries to stop you, say you were getting feedback before bringing the completed idea to him. You know how busy he is and don't want to waste his time with something that may turn out to be impractical.

5. Use informality to let people see your ability

Use informal meetings -- say after work, where people just chat -- to talk casually about your ideas and what you've achieved. If they exist, make a point of going. If they don't, start some. be seen as the person around whom the talk circulates. That way people will recognize you as an important person.

6. Develop your staff

Work as hard as you can at developing your own staff. Be everything to them your boss isn't to you. Nothing gets people noticed faster than capable, loyal staff who tell everyone what a great boss they have. If the people below you are headed upwards fast -- and they're loyal to you -- they'll push you up ahead of them.

7. Spread the word subtly

Copy the right people in on your messages, but do it subtly. Don't copy everything to everyone. That will make you look pushy. Just ask yourself who else (other than your boss) has a legitimate interest -- who else could find what you're saying genuinely helpful -- and add them to the cc'd list.

8. Create a portfolio of your best work

Use it to remind yourself of your worth and boost your self-confidence. It will also be extremely handy if you need to think about getting another job that fits your abilities better (and another boss who isn't an asshole) and need to revise your CV/resume.

9. Document, document!

Keep your files and paperwork meticulous. Document everything important. If your asshole boss tries to blame you for his mistakes, make sure you have documentary proof that you did exactly what you ought to have done. Never argue or get angry. Let the facts speak for themselves.

10. Treat others well

Always treat others as you want them to treat you. If you want them to take your achievements seriously, make sure that's what you do. If you want them to see you as someone important, treat yourself that way. No one will ever see you as more useful or important than you see yourself.

11. Never, NEVER fight

Never complain. Never whine. People have very little tolerance for -- or interest in -- the problems of others, especially if they're gloomy or likely to cause trouble. If you fight, people will avoid being involved. If you complain, they'll try to keep out of it. If you whine, they'll see you as the problem. Be generous with praise. People love to be praised and recognized -- and love people who do it to them. The more you praise others -- with justification -- the more they'll praise you. The same applies to criticism.

12. Be deserving of success

Be helpful and generous to everyone you meet on your way up. They'll remember you for it and won't try to pull you down once you've reached higher things. Have everyone convinced -- and saying -- you richly deserve your success. Companies aren't democracies, but top people don't get there by ignoring public opinion.

Organizations are like clubs

The people who get to the top positions choose others they like. They don't choose problem people they don't trust. You need to establish three things without question:

1. You're outstanding at what you do today.

2. You're completely trustworthy.

3. You're a really nice person to have around.

Do this and you'll be unstoppable -- whatever your boss says.

Adrian W. Savage writes for people who want help with the daily dilemmas they face at work. He has contributed more than 25 articles to leading British and American publications and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Chicago Tribune.

Visit his blog on the ups and downs of business life.

---

Job Hunting Tips: Accepting Judgment

Applying for work is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Even... Read More

Dont Quit Your Day Job! Convincing Your Boss To Let You Telecommute (Part 2 of 2)

Ok, so you've determined that you have the right skills... Read More

The 10-Step Resume Critique

Your resume will generally receive a 15- to 30-second scan... Read More

How to Improve Your Work Situation

buWhy are so many people unhappy in their work situation?... Read More

Tips For Successful Job Hunting: How To Get A Job Without A Resume

I am in my mid-thirties, and, as you can imagine,... Read More

5 Proven Steps To Easily Master The Art Of The Interview And Get The Bartending Job Of Your Dreams!

Your mouth is dry, your palms are sweaty, your heart... Read More

Nonverbal Interview Behavior

Non-verbal interview behavior can drown out your verbal self-presentation.Practice interviewing... Read More

The Ripple Effect of Fear

Unemployment carries a lot of emotional baggage for most of... Read More

How Hedgehogs Hire

In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle,... Read More

Children At Work: Looking at Child Labor in the Victorian Age

Today, it isn't that uncommon for some children and teenagers... Read More

So you want to work at home

There are several ways to work from home. Some of... Read More

Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance

Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us... Read More

Is A Career a Calling or Choice?

How much of our career path is destiny and how... Read More

Do You Have What it Takes to be a Successful Petite Model?

Want to break into the petite modeling industry but wondering... Read More

Revitalize Your Recruiting for 2005

Happy New Year! The forecasts are in agreement: Hiring is... Read More

When Should You Update Your Job Skills?

With the U.S. economy still slumping and unemployment numbers barely... Read More

You Are Not Entitled to a Job!

Résumé TipsSome basics about job hunting...First of all, nobody owes... Read More

Settling Successfully Into Your New Job

The euphoria of getting a new job can sometimes be... Read More

Can You Actually Fail A Personality Quiz?

Q. I didn't get a job that I interviewed for.... Read More

When the Teacher Becomes the Student

A relationship expert once said that during an argument, there's... Read More

The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done

Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will... Read More

Ready to Move -- Anywhere!

"I have lived in this city all my life. My... Read More

How to Manage Your Career Like a Business

Look upon yourself as a company with a product or... Read More

Look in the Mirror

Take a moment to step outside yourself. Now, be honest... Read More

Job Search Secret #1

The job search secret that is so powerful it will... Read More

Outsmart Other Job Seekers by Showing These 5 Key Strengths

Getting an appointment for an interview these days is an... Read More

Hospital Staff at Great Risk of Attack and Injury Whilst at Work

There are millions of people working extremely hard every day... Read More

Getting Past Fear

Have you gotten tons of career advice, solicited and unsolicited?... Read More

Job Layoff: Confronting Why Me?

Perhaps you saw it coming. The fall in company stock... Read More

Salary Negotiation Secrets Revealed

Before you go into the interview, it is important to... Read More

How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II

In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More

Everyday Is Saturday: Help for the Suddenly Unemployed

I recently was "unhired" by my former employer. Unhired is... Read More

Building a Solid Network

A client who has a fine arts degree wanted to... Read More