27. The Bad Boss Survival Kit: Tips for Dealing With a Bad Manager

Can we make them stop? Or do we have to call it quits?

Some bad managers are overtly aggressive, yelling and screaming at the drop of a hat. Some are passive-aggressive and have never raised their voice. Some bad managers are constantly on us, micromanaging every task. Some bad managers are nowhere to be found.

Bad managers come in all shapes and sizes but are easy to spot.

Whatever package bad managers come in, they all have one thing in common:

They keep us and our team from doing the best work possible.

Is it possible to get them to change? Or is our only course of action to leave and find another job somewhere else?

The good news is that most bad managers aren’t bad people. They may just happen to have some habits that keep our teams from doing their best work.

There are many different ways to deal with bad managers, but in this week’s episode we go over five unique types of bad managers and break down some tips on how to move forward.

Topics:
• 04:28 – Understand your working style first
• 08:00 – Managers are people too
• 09:34 – Start with a conversation
• 09:50 – Take a look in the mirror first
• 12:49 – Micromanagers
• 15:33 – Absentee manager
• 17:35 – Unsupportive manager
• 18:55 – The inconsistent manager
• 20:38 – The Bully
• 23:27 – A note about HR
• 24:12 – Act professionally
• 25:14 – It might make sense to quit

Helpful Links:
• What to Do When You Hate Your Manager | HBR
• How to deal with a toxic manager: 7 tips | The Enterprisers Project
• How To Handle A Bad Manager | Forbes
• 10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Manager | The Muse
• 4 Ways to Deal With a Bad Manager | Real Simple
• How to Professionally Deal With a Bad Manager | The Balance
• 09. Don’t Stop Networking After You Land the Job
• 23. Mastering the Art of Managing Up

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