Terrible, No-good, Bad Boss Survival Strategies
Do You Need to Quit?
Are you in need of bad boss survival strategies? Half of us
Got a boss from hell, and wondering if you should stay or go?
To get an answer to that burning question I recently took a poll from the trenches of the workplace. These true stories offer seven different options on how to deal with your boss from hell. You’re sure to find one that works for you.
Staying: Survive & Maybe Even Thrive Despite Your Bad Boss
Sometimes quitting isn’t an option. Or, even when it is, there’s better reasons to “tough out” a bad boss. Here are five hell-to-happiness bad boss stories and their corresponding coping strategies: transfer, step down, escalate, re-asses, and thrive.
1. Unethical and Destructive. Stay Squeaky-Clean, & Transfer
My worst boss treated corporate ethics like an easily ignored nuisance. He and his equally corrupt lackey tried to get me to inappropriately apply a policy to cheat their way achieving goals, potentially setting some bad precedents along the way. I foiled their plan by “innocently” asking the-powers-that-be how the policy worked via voicemail after hours. I then forwarded their irate voicemail response to my boss and his lackey. Pissed them off, but after that they didn’t try to suck me into twisting policy for their goals. I wasn’t the only one impacted by my boss’ unethical behavior. A colleague from a former company he convinced to move halfway across the country to follow him quit over his shenanigans and moved “back home.” A couple other stars fled to the competition. I eventually grabbed the first transfer I could to get out. Amazingly, “thanks” to this guy’s underhanded techniques for delivering short-term results, that was over 10 years ago, and he’s still there! – Anonymous, from a top Fortune company high-tech employee, currently sailing the South Pacific
2. Intolerable. Step Down?
My boss would have outbursts in the department head’s office. There were only the two of us running the department program. She was extremely competitive and wanted to win. When she didn’t win her attitude was punitive. I wasn’t in the mood for her condescending comments, I ‘commented’ back. Ultimately, I was easier to replace than she was… and was transferred. I asked not to be in a leadership position for a while. They respected my wishes and I was happy with that. – Anonymous, from a former military nurse, now a lauded freelance photographer
3. Rude and Incompetent. Escalate.
I considered my worst boss incompetent. There was a lot of friction between us. He berated me in front of all my colleagues, saying, “We would not be doing something like [my name] does it.” I went his boss. He listened and told me his negative stories about the same guy, but he didn’t fire him immediately.
I stayed. They eventually let him go. – Anonymous, from a part-time job as a ski instructor, currently a Life Coach
4. Reassess. Who’s ‘Bad’?
“I hate my boss” is the wrong view. There is nothing wrong with my past managers as people. I generally was hired for the wrong job by people who thought they could manage me. It is more like my boss and I are allergic to each other or just bad fits. – Anonymous, from a Fortune 500, currently Business Analytics Manager
5. Unsupportive. Career Stymied. Refocus & Thrive.
After asking my boss for two years for a discussion about how to take my career to the next level, she did — on her last day with the company. She chose to do so during my annual review, with my new boss in the room! While she did tell me about all the great things I had done, she concluded, “You are not ready to move to the next level because you need to be more strategic.” I thought I was strategic!
Later, attending a Women in Tech Leadership luncheon, I listened to the speaker share her story about her frustration with her job and lack of career growth, her anger and dissatisfaction, and her realization it was up to her to either leave or find something about her current role that energized her. She found a new focus, which allowed her to find a renewed sense of energy about where she was.
I, too, was done being miserable. I didn’t want to leave, so I took her advice. It didn’t take long before I began getting feedback from executives impressed with my work. —Megan Bigelow, Manager, Customer Care @ Jama Software | President & Co-Founder, PDX Women in Tech
Note: Watch for a future post, inspired by Megan, on how to take control and develop your own successful career plan, (even if you have a boss from hell).
Quitting: When you’ve Reached That Point of No Return
Sometimes, the best, and only was out is… out.
1. Miserable. No Outs. Quit.
My “last” corporate boss was heinous, He told me he expected me to use my contacts to “penetrate” the group I used to belong to. He admitted he was asking me to be unethical and beg, steal, lie, whatever to get whatever it was he wanted. He said that if I got caught I was on my own and he would disavow he ever gave me those orders. My HR rep was afraid of him (I didn’t know that at the time). She lied and said she’d got it handled. Imagine my surprise the next time we had a 1:1 meeting. I thought he’d been reined in, and he had no idea I’d committed HR treason. When it was time for my review, he wrote an 11-page scathe. Eventually I quit that job to start my own business. I figure if that was my lot in bosses, I was better off on my own [I am]. – Anonymous, from a top Fortune high-tech company, currently thriving as a freelance writer
2. Leave in a Blaze of Glory
As a newly divorced single mom, I needed this job, but my boss, who at 5’3” must’ve been related to Napoleon. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed towering over him in my high heels?
He would come to my desk, when I was seated and tapping his finger on my desk to make his point, while shouting in my face. It was all I had not to grab his knobby little wrist and swing him over my head a few times for all to see.
One day he tried his “routine” one more time. He almost fell out of his BIG executive chair, when he saw me come in right behind him. I quietly closed the door and looking him in his beady little eyes, said “OK, now it’s my turn.” He held on to his chair arms as I delivered my litany of abuses, and how they could affect the business. Throughout, I spoke in a low, even tone almost to the degree he had to lean in to hear me. He attempted several times to interrupt, defer, etc. Each time, I got louder, holding up my hand to “stop” him at each try. IT WAS GREAT!
He is still busy yelling, as some other lady who no doubt needs her job. Meanwhile, I am happy to stand tall, even barefoot. –Anonymous, from High Tech Office/HR Manager, currently Small Business Bookkeeper & Trainer
Sadly, Bosses from Hell Are a Fact of Life.
If you haven’t experienced one yet, congratulations. Odds are, however, you likely will someday.
Final Note of Thanks
This article made possible by the true stories based on contributions and conversations from friends, colleagues, candidates and clients I’ve met and worked with over the years. Daily, I feel humbled, amused and inspired by you and your stories. Thank you.
Do You Need to Quit?
Connie Dorigan, Founder and Director of Recruiting, sees the food processing industry as the link between good living and good people. She’s the west coast’s most experienced and trusted food processing recruiter. She also provides Executive and Career Coaching and lots of free job search tools. Once you’ve connected with Connie, you’ll always be connected.
© 2018 Connie Dorigan. All rights reserved.
This is a general interest article and does not constitute specific or legal advice.
