How to Deal with a Sh*tty Boss

Let me preface this by saying I currently have the worlds BEST boss (I know he reads my stuff and I don’t want him to think I don’t appreciate him LOL)

We have ALL been there. Stuck with the horrible boss, team leader or colleague. But a horrible boss is the absolute worst. People leave leadership not jobs when moving on from a company. If you have a toxic work environment, you are more than likely more stressed than you need to be, resentful, your work ethic has taken a plunge and you’re overall success in a role diminishes due to the lack of desire to be good at it.

Sounds totally familiar right? Well, it is not ideal to just leave a job because you can’t stand your boss but there are some ways you can handle the situation with poise and grace so you get invaluable experience in the role and make yourself look like an indestructible badass.

Here are 3 tips on how to deal with a difficult boss during times of adversity.

1 | Leave the RBF at home & SMILE.

I know, faking it til you make it is so 2018. We are living our most authentic life and our most authentic self in 2019 right? This is a realistic thought to someone who has found their perfect position with perfect leadership; but with someone who is trying to gain knowledge, experience and pay the bills, it’s not.

We wear our emotions on our face and everyone around you can tell your inner feelings through your expressions and mannerisms. Train yourself to smile through the tough times. Keep that eye roll inside.

2 | Make Big & Little Goals

Find out what your 1 year, 5 year and 10 year plan will be and how your current situation is going get you there. Once you determine the length of time you need to remain in your position, you can start thinking ahead of when you make your exit.

I had an awful boss at one of my retail jobs (okay I lied, I have had a couple bad bosses) but I knew I was going to be around for 1 year minimally and 2 years maximum. Mentally, it helped me prepare that I was in this moment to better myself and grow.

My little goals were small victories through the day that I spent with my boss. Depending on the day it complimenting them to lighten the mood, taking on an extra responsibility to show my personal value (even if it wasn’t recognized) or it was grabbing an extra coffee. KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS. It’s hard, which is why I call it a goal. It’s really hard to be kind to someone who is shitting on you but we can hope they feel guilty when they realize it at 3AM and remember the moment you brought their Starbucks order.

3 | Remain Poised

One thing I have learned about having a bad boss is that everyone around you feels it too. You’re usually not alone. Be a leader within the pack and show grace each day regardless. One thing I always have told my girls when they saw or felt the pressure from above is that they are doing the best they can with what they are given and to take this moment as a growth opportunity and not take it as a scale of their self worth.

Always motivate and inspire the people around you, even when you aren’t feeling it. Positivity is infectious. While you might not get any from the top, it is nice to have peers who you can count on to bring you up when you’re down and vice versa.