People don’t leave companies, the old saying goes, they leave managers. So, with the new year here, why not give your boss an early appraisal?
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What was the first thing your manager said to you in 2014? Did they chat about your Christmas? Did they offer you a cup of tea and ask about your plans for the year? Or did they greet you in another way? Something like…
Shouting: “What time do you call this?” across the office at 09.31…
And, once you’d got over that, was the first email in your inbox a non-too-gentle reminder to complete your timesheet? (Something you were planning to do anyway.) If your boss believes that people are all basically lazy and need reminding of the fact regularly, you have two choices: (1) become a robot or (2) find an employer that treats you like an adult.
Approaching you with an urgent request before you’ve even had time to take your coat off…
In most organisations it’s not necessary to be popular or thoughtful to become a manager. But to become a well-respected and successful one, a little consideration is essential. If your boss generally behaves as though your time is unimportant but theirs is critical, then, unless you can train them, you are going to be a puppet forever dancing to someone else’s tune.
Emailing you a detailed task list due by lunchtime
Five bonus points if the email was titled ‘Happy New Year’, but the content seemed like an attempt to ruin your 2014 before it got started. (Ten bonus points if it was sent on the 25th or 26th of December.) Getting a micromanager to trust you is a big job. You’ve got to convince them that you could do your job (almost) as well as they could and in exactly the way they would. This could take months or even years – and it might be easier just to look for a new job where they see you as more than simply an extra pairs of hands.
They didn’t say anything at all – your boss doesn’t talk to people
If your boss can’t manage a simple hello in the morning, it’s unlikely you’ll enjoy working for them forever. If they’re a bad communicator – if they don’t talk to their people, if they don’t share information, if they’re tactless, egotistical or scared to deliver bad news – then, however well they do the other parts of their job, they’re a poor manager. In these situations, don’t wait for them to communicate; be proactive. Keep them updated on what you’re working on. Put times in the diary for regular catch-ups. And say good morning to them each day. Either that or say goodbye…
They didn’t say anything at all – they don’t talk to you
If you work for a boss who doesn’t respect you, doesn’t like you or ignores you, then it can make your working life a misery. Your boss doesn’t have to be your best friend, but if they are unable to maintain a cordial relationship with you – especially if they get on well with other people – that is a problem that need to be tackled. You have a right to be treated decently at work.
They didn’t say anything at all – they’re never at their desk
Some bosses are like ghosts: invisible most of the time but able to appear and terrify you at the most unexpected times. Are you happy with being semi-detached from your boss? Or does their invisibility leave you having to pick up their work? Do you find you can’t get help or support when there’s a problem, but they’re always around when there’s credit to be handed out? Well, unless someone higher up in the organisation is planning an exorcism, then this could be your cue to find a less haunted office.
If you recognise any of these common managerial problems, ask yourself: does it bother me or is this the year when I find myself a new boss?
Oh, and if you’ve ever had a nightmare boss, let us know your tips for handling them.
