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Managing your Boss

95% of employees have got the boss from hell- this is the general consensus. Most employees complain
of general job dissatisfaction and the reason is always one and the same, ‘ My boss is a general pain in
the behind!’

It often helps to be emotionless about it as the complaints are more emotional than rational.

‘She hates me’

He doesn’t like my face’

She feels threatened by my performance, maybe she thinks I’ll take her job’

She’s so arrogant and rude

He doesn’t respect me.

Note that most of the examples above have’ she in them’ 75% of employees believe that female bosses
are the worst, most prefer to work with a man. The following tips, if practiced will help you work better
with your boss, regardless of whom they are.


Understand your boss and method of working- put yourself in his/ her shoes, it really isn’t easy
to lead people. It’s not a piece of cake as it seems. Perhaps she doesn’t want to be seen as a
weakling and thus makes some unnecessarily harsh decisions which might affect you. Maybe
he needs you to follow up with him after you send the email and you are pissed off because he
hasn’t replied. Most bosses often take a liking to staff who come forward with problems and
the solutions, not just problems.

Be assertive- Speak up and if necessary, push back. Although they might not openly say it out,
bosses prefer people who are not afraid to speak up. Only bosses with an inferiority complex
will be vindictive about it

Keep your integrity intact- If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. Beware
of bosses who try to make you compromise your integrity just to make them shine, people are
watching even when you think they aren’t and eventually you will be respected for your stand.
Your are there to make your boss look good- More friction is likely to happen between you and
your boss when your performance is questionable or you are termed a mis- hire. If your non-
performance is rubbing off negatively on your boss, you may be in for a rough time. Increase
your knowledge and competencies and make sure that you look good and your boss looks good
in front of his bosses. That is the secret of promotions, fat bonuses and salary increases.