The Forming Five, Part 1
Working For a Challenging Boss
FIRST UP — A NEW SERIES
As we wrap up this month on my blog, I wanted to bring you, my readers, a series of posts to help you work better. But not only that, I wanted to think of material that would help you over the long haul, material that, should you use it, would help you be your best self working in the best possible way. I was thinking of what I could bring you that would help you today, but also give encouragement for the work and life challenges you’ll face in the future.
As I kept thinking of what I could write to help you, I started writing about five different career experiences we all must navigate in order to work better. I’m calling these work experiences “The Forming Five,” and here’s a list of what they are…
- Working with a challenging boss/supervisor
- Having a less-than-ideal job
- Functioning in a toxic workplace
- Bearing the weight of leadership
- Investing in your own development
This week, I will be walking you through this first forming experience, and will unpack the other four in the next weeks and months. Let’s get started.
DEFINING THE CHALLENGE
We have access to a lot of stories about our work today, and even more about how to aim and target our careers to be at their best. In the last year or so, I can’t tell you how many articles I’ve seen about the pros and cons of open-office work spaces, or articles with titles along the lines of “Negotiate Your Top Salary in 5 Easy Steps!” Ideas and thoughts on how to handle your boss are no different.
In this post, and in the “Forming Five” series, I don’t want to give you more information. I want to help you become more aware; I want you to begin to take the action you need to, so you can start making wise career decisions. But today, with our first experience — working for a challenging boss — we start by being aware.
What does a challenging boss look like? Here are two ways you can know…
- They can be a control-freak, and believe they need to do everything themselves.
A boss or supervisor can be difficult to work with if their standard way of operating is a “my way or the highway” mindset, or they believe they are the only one who can get things done right. One problem with a boss or supervisor who has this mindset is that it robs their team of the chance to keep growing in their skills and abilities. Over time, that can lead to employees feeling stuck, being disengaged, questioning what they are accomplishing, and could have them considering leaving the company altogether.
Secondly, with this way of thinking, it puts the full weight of success (and failure) on your boss’s shoulders, and that brings with it a ton of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Left unchecked, this mindset isn’t healthy for anyone in any company, especially anyone who is leading others.
This past year, in my current organization, we started to offer training for the managers of our different departments, as a way to start giving our leaders more thoughtful coaching and development. What’s more, a recent study from the Gallup Organization concluded that many companies have a hard time finding the right candidates for supervisors, stating that only 1 out of 10 candidates possess the natural abilities that are suited to lead other employees. So, that means if you’re working for a challenging boss in your current role, chances are you’re not alone.
2. They aren’t open or available, in reasonable terms.
A second reason your boss may be challenging could be that they aren’t open or available. Here’s what this can look like…
- Your boss stays huddled in their office all day
- Your leader keeps to themselves, often eating alone, and seldom with other team members
- If there’s an emergency, your boss is not available by phone, email, or text message (if applicable)
With this point, please notice I used the phrase “in reasonable terms.” Depending on your industry, your supervisor may need to be available on nights and weekends. But, if your boss does not prioritize being available to problem-solve an issue with you, or respond to an (actually urgent) email, then this can be someone difficult to have as your supervisor.
I could include many more reasons that a boss can be challenging, but now let’s move on to some helpful ways you can respond to a challenging boss.
HOW TO RESPOND TO A CHALLENGING BOSS
You’ve read through some ways your current boss may be challenging to work for. Check. Now, we get to the other side of this equation — how you can work at your best for them. Re-read that if you need to.
Yes, I said it — we’re gonna talk about you and how you can work at your best for your challenging boss. Why? Because I believe you can, and I believe you’ll be better for it in the long run if you do. (I’m writing to help you, remember?)
Here are two simple ways you can work better for a challenging boss…
- Make the most of their time by being prepared and ready
In his excellent book, The 360 Degree Leader (affiliate link), John Maxwell mentions how important it is to make the most of your leader’s time as a way to do what he calls “leading up.” Another way you can think of this is being the example to your boss through working on your own leadership choices.
Here are a few ideas of how you could apply this principle:
- Look at your boss’s schedule to see when they have openings of time. Then, ask to schedule any meeting requests you need during those break times. This is a way you can respect them by respecting their time.
- If you have a meeting, and you need 15 minutes, keep it to 15 minutes! I have often heard stories of leaders setting a stopwatch on their smartphone as they start a meeting, and once the time is up, they say thank you and exit. Again — another way to respect your boss’ time.
2. Lead by example
Aside from trying to respect your boss’ time, one of the best ways you can work with a challenging boss is working on how you lead yourself. This is another concept pioneered by John Maxwell, and it has to do with the choices you make each day.
To help you get a feel for how you lead yourself, consider asking these reflection questions…
- Am I willing to serve my boss, department, and organization? Why or why not? How could I serve them, if I wanted to change?
- Do I treat others the way I want to be treated?
- Do I overreact or fly off the handle with problems at work?
- What are two things I could begin to do to handle my work problems in a positive, healthy way?
- Am I quick to trust and respect those I work with? Why or why not?
How you answer these questions can be a good barometer for how your team sees you, how clients see you, and how your boss sees you. To work better with a challenging boss, you may be wise to honestly examine your own thoughts, actions, and choices.
THE WAY FORWARD
And so, we end this first post of “The Forming Five” series. I hope you have found it practical, helpful, and encouraging. If you are working for a challenging boss, I want you to know you are not alone, and that it can be a formative experience.
While having a difficult boss isn’t an ideal situation, it can help you work better because it can help you start to lead by example, and that has the capacity to change your entire organization. Secondly, a challenging boss or supervisor can help you look at yourself more closely, and begin to adjust your daily choices and responses. Either way, you’re beginning to take positive steps forward.
Either way, you’re beginning to work as your best self in the best possible way.
Until next time, keep working with purpose, and thanks for reading!
FEATURED LINKS FROM THIS POST:
- The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell (affiliate link)
- My Affiliate Links Policy Statement (takes you from this website)
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