101: Managing up
Having a difficult boss can leave you feeling undervalued, unmotivated and generally unhappy at work. But there's such a thing as “managing the manager.” Instead of planning your exit strategy, consider an honest look at your own performance, then manage up; that is, manage the boss you already have.
Develop workarounds on their weaknesses. Remember that you don't gain anything by making your boss look bad or helping to facilitate their failure in any way. It could damage your reputation and will ultimately make you feel worse. Margie Warrell, in a Forbes article, recommends being proactive with their weaknesses: “If he tends to change his mind frequently, or is outright forgetful, be sure to document interactions so you can refer back to them if he ever contradicts himself,” she writes. If you know she is slow to respond, continue working on a project until you hear back from her.
Lean into their style. "An analytical [type boss] will take exception to someone who presents an idea without data to support it. A people person will be offended in the absence of regular communication," says Atlanta-based executive coach Mariette Edwards in an article by Elizabeth Garone for The Wall Street Journal. Figure out their style and adapt as best you can, instead of fighting it.
Don't assume she hates you. “You have to humble yourself a little and find a way to see things from this manager's point of view,” says Karin Hurt, CEO of a Baltimore-based executive coaching firm, in a Fortune.com article by Anne Fisher. “Micromanagement … may just be standard behavior in the organization he came from,” she writes. She suggests engaging your manager in a conversation and finding out how both of you can work better together.
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