There are many valid reasons why employees can grow to dislike their boss.
But, whether you like them or loathe them, your relationship with your boss is important. Here’s is what career counsellor, Dr John Taccori had to say on fostering a better relationship with the boss.
Be friendly
Dr Taccori’s primary strategy – and it’s a simple one – is to be friendly. He believes simple communication and the widely-detested small talk is necessary to break the communication barrier between employees and their boss.
Some of these learned skills that individuals can work on are: smiling, being positive and going out of their way to engage in basic conversation. Once the initial awkwardness and formal behaviour simmers down, asking for more or less from your boss, he believes, won’t seem as daunting.
A bad boss can make your life hell. Photo: Getty Source: Caiaimage/Getty
How to say you’re feeling overworked
Most industries experience high pressure periods where it seems time is against them. But, if you’ve been generally clocking in more overtime than you would like, Dr Taccori believes a boss will be more understanding if you personalise the situation.
“By saying I haven’t been spending a lot of time with my kids or my partner, you humanise the situation,” explains Dr Taccori.
“While good bosses appreciate these high-pressure periods and reward employees, sometimes you have to communicate it yourself.”
Address matters privately
If you have some persisting concerns, you should tread lightly and do it privately, says Dr Taccori.
“No boss responds well to being embarrassed or criticised publicly. It may make things even worse,” he says.
One of the strategies he endorses is making the issue the problem not your boss: “For example if you’re not getting enough instruction, ask them if they could put it in an email next time.”
He also suggests going in with a solution to help the boss make a quick decision: “You don’t want to seem like you’re adding more to their workload.”
Don’t rock the boat
Dr Taccori believes sometimes you have to tough it out and stay compliant as bosses don’t want to deal with more problems.
“If you do what you have to without making waves, your boss is going to notice you and think you’re an easy person to get on with,” he says.
Finally, he recommends acknowledging that it could be worse: “If you like the work you’re doing, have an exceptional team and sometimes have to deal with a tough boss – that’s pretty good.”
Know when to get out
Where you’ve tried different strategies, spoken to different people and nothing has changed, Dr Taccori believes it’s time to weigh up the circumstances.
“If your work environment has become toxic and it’s beginning to impact on your physical and mental health, then it might be best to leave.”
