How To Deal With A Bad Boss Without Losing Your Job

To listen to the blog post “How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ 6 Actionable Steps” over reading it just click the play button below.

In this post, I am going to tell you how to deal with a bad boss. Dealing with a bad boss can be hard, but like with any situation (good or bad), there are lessons to be learned. I have been in the workforce for a VERY LONG time. And although I have dreaded working with and for bad bosses, dealing with them is what actually made me stronger.

The reason why that is is because of something called resiliency which is defined as the ability to overcome challenges in a positive way.  BUT in order for one to become resilient, there must be some type of adversity or difficulty present and the person must be able to positively overcome the adversity in order to become resilient. Hence the point of this blog.  Meaning that working for a bad boss can actually teach you some POSITIVE things which is what this post is all about.

We have all had situations in which we have not worked in an ideal work environment. We have all had situations in which we have worked under a boss that we do not get along with or one that gets under our skin.  But for these situations, since we are in a professional work environment we can never just lose our cool.  Not unless we want to lose our jobs.  Working under a hostile boss does test your character but it also refines your character.

There are several scenarios that can occur when you are working under a crazy boss. The crazy boss can irritate you so much that you want to leave.  But you need to evaluate if leaving is the ideal situation for you.  Sometimes we get placed in a job that we can learn from.  In the counseling field, we have something called reframing. It is where you take a negative situation and try to see the good in it. Also, check out my video down below for my video skit on how to deal with a bad boss. And don’t forget to subscribe to my channel by clicking here. 

Which is what I am going to help you do today.

1. How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ Be Patient

When dealing with a bad boss you should never let them run you out of a job if the job is good for you professionally. Leaving a job on whim because you do not like your boss can cause you to find any job.  And the ANY job can turn out to be a job that you will hate, a job that pays less, and a job that does nothing for your professional career.

Therefore, no matter how bad your boss is you must practice patience.  Do not let anyone kick you out of your job before it is your time to go.  Learn what you need to learn and leave on your own terms, once you get the skills that you need. Never let a bad boss make you leave a job that you know is good for you or one that you want to move up in.

How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ Case in point

If you have ever read the book or seen the movie, the Devil Wears Prada (based on a true story).  This is a perfect example of being at that job that can teach you and lead to other opportunities.  Yes, the boss was crazy but the reward of working for a crazy boss is invaluable. In this book and movie, they literally told the employee that if she worked for this bad boss for just one year, that she could get a recommendation to work for ANYWHERE that she wanted to do. Now if you knew that you had to work for a bad boss for a year and could get your dream job after, the bad boss does not sound so bad right?

2. How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ When Dealing With a Bad Boss Be Humble

More often than not, the root of a bad boss is that they think that because they are your boss this makes them a better person than you. They confuse a supervisory position, as a birthright.  They see themselves as a king or a queen and you as a peasant.  The key to dealing with a bad boss is to not get mad but get humble.  When you move up in your career it is a large possibility that you will be someone’s boss.  And when you do, you need to remember the way you were treated by a bad boss and you will not repeat their mistakes when you become a boss.

3. How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ Use Self-Control

It is only natural that when you are confronted with crazy that you would want to retaliate with crazy. But even if your boss is crazy and you retaliate with craziness, the only thing that is going to happen is that you are going to be out of a job.  Unfortunately, supervisors have the last say.  And when push comes to shove, if you react the same way they react, you are going to be seen as being in the wrong and not them.

It is called insubordination.  So working under a bad boss teaches you self-control.  It teaches you that you cannot operate off your emotions and that you must control your tongue if you want to keep your job.  I am not saying that you have to be anyone’s slave and let them talk to you any kind of way.  What I am saying is to learn not to repay evil for evil and crazy for crazy.  Sometimes you just have to be the bigger person.  If your boss does not know how to act, then lead by example and show them what real class is.

4. How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ Articulate Well 

Remember when I told you that you needed to learn self-control. Self-control does not mean that you are someone’s puppet and that you can never speak up for yourself.  You can speak up for yourself in an articulate manner.  The difference between articulation and self-control is that self-control is being able to control yourself enough so that you do not fly off the handle.

Articulation means that you are able to communicate with your bad boss in a way that gets your point across in a professional way.  If a crazy boss says something rude to you, you cursing them out is the wrong way to articulate.  But you tell them that you prefer they speak to you in a respectful tone that is consistent with a professional work environment, is articulation.  The cursing out the bad boss will get you fired, the articulation will show your class. Also, check out my post on assertive communication in the workplace.

5. How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ Do Not to Make a Mountain Out of a Mole Hill

Many crazy supervisors have a superiority complex. You know the one that makes them think that you are somehow beneath them.  As a result of that complex, they may ask you to do a lot of stupid things that you do not want to do or that are not in your job description.  They may even make a big deal over nothing.  This is when you have to pick and choose your battles. Sometimes it is just best to nod your head and say okay and do what they ask of you,  as opposed to arguing over everything little thing.

In life, we all have to do things that we do not want to do.  Sometimes we just have to give in and be the bigger person.  Show them that you are not going to sit and argue with them over something that is really not that serious.  By doing this you master the art of not sweating the small stuff and realizing that it is just not that serious which teaches you how not to let minor things get under your skin.

6. How To Deal With A Bad Boss ~ Learn Repay Evil with Kindness

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

The biggest way to get back at a bad boss is to be nice to them. I know it may be hard, but being nice to someone who has an issue with you is for you and not them.  It is a way to point out your professionalism and show them that their little attitude is not phasing you, and you are going to choose to be happy despite whatever is wrong with them.  The only person that can affect your mood is you.

If you allow your crazy boss to jack up your day, then they have won.  You always want to keep your character in check.  You never know who is watching and perhaps being kind to a crazy boss will put you in line for a promotion. Someone on the job is always watching how you handle conflict.  Also, check out my video below for more ways on how to handle conflict on the job.

If you like this post on 6 Lessons You Can Learn Dealing With a Bad Boss you may also like my post on how to deal with crazy co-workers. 

These are the 6 ways that dealing with a bad boss can actually help you and not hurt you. Remember your bad boss may be irritating but mastering the bad boss is even better. The bad boss can only get to you IF you let them get to you.

If you know someone who may be dealing with a bad boss and need to read this post then feel free to share it with them.