We’ve all been there. At one time or another throughout our careers, we’ve reported to somebody with a big title, fat paycheck, and reserved parking space only to wonder, “How did they get the job?”
Incompetence and bad behavior often trump true leadership, and this unfortunately can affect our work lives. Here are five types of bad bosses—and how to deal with them (when quitting isn’t an option).
1. The Manager Who Says “Yes” and Then Pretends Like That Was Never the Case
You were given the “green light” to move forward on an initiative. But once again, your boss has not only changed her mind, but it appears she’s forgotten all about ever having approved the project.
Now if this is a shift in direction based on some new critical information, that’s totally legit. But if this behavior is déjà vu more times than you can count, you’ve got a problem.
How to Deal
The way to approach this challenge is to identify what’s causing the “stop and go:” Who seems to always be whispering in her ear? Once you get a sense for who else may be involved in helping to change her mind, include those voices in meetings and get their sign-offs before you begin any project.
And once you do—wait. Build into your project timeline a few days to let the dust settle and then circle back with your boss to confirm plans. You may not stop the behavior, but you will feel more in control and not spend so much time working on projects that may never see the light of day.
