“Help! My Boss is a Jerk!”
How to Deal with a Bad Boss

There’s nothing to make the work day even more miserable than a bad boss. From the bullies to the micromanagers to the kings of inappropriate comments—bad bosses come in all varieties.  Here’s how to cope with all sorts.

The Criticizer:  This boss is particularly toxic because she’s a real confidence killer. No matter how well you do something, you always get criticism.
How to Cope: Wait for a time when you are calm, cool and collected, and then confront the Criticizer.  Try saying, “I wanted to talk to you about how I could do a better job, and it’s difficult to deliver a hundred percent when I’m being constantly criticized.”

The Micromanager: This boss is like a stalker, watching everything you do and expecting you to check in on everything you do. It’s hard to get work done when there’s a vulture on your shoulders.  The good news is, experts say micromanaging is more of a personality trait and not a reflection on the quality of your work.

How to Cope:  Remember, it’s not you, it’s him. In most cases, micromanaging is more about control than anything else. The trick is to let your boss think he/she is in control. Ask her input even on the simplest or silliest of matters—“Should I plug it in here or in the far wall?,” for example.  Also, take a preventative approach. Don’t give a micromanager any more ammunition than necessary—double-check your spelling, grammar, formatting on memos, and make sure your research is bulletproof. Whatever your job is, go the extra mile so he has absolutely nothing to say.

The Slave Driver: This boss is the worst. Sure, it sounds good that she thinks you’re superhumanly capable of handling a gazillion tasks in one day, but the constant bombardment of work really wrecks your flow. This boss expects you to do it all, while emailing and calling you constantly to do even more things. All the while, the timeframe for all the work to be done is completely unreasonable.

How to Cope: Don’t make it personal. Saying, I missed my daughter’s soccer game because of all this work is not the best strategy. Instead, experts say to focus on his or her management style and its ill effects. Try these opening lines: “It’s difficult for me to deliver good work with such an unrealistic timeframe to complete it all? Can we reassess the time line so I can give you my best work possible? “If that doesn’t work, try turning the tables.  Say, “I need your help. What do you think is the best way to manage a heavy workload?” This approach works because it deflects attention back to your boss and puts it on him to help create solutions.