Most of us will probably never have a job in the Google headquarters. The guys who work there have it made(1).
And a big chunk of the reason why they have such a cool job is that (our guess is) they’ve all sworn to a work environment and work ethics that’s not just healthy but fun as well. As simple as that. But it works well.
What if your boss is not as cool as the masterminds behind Google? And exactly how financially-rewarding should your job be that you would be willing to take any blow from a boss from hell? Bosses may be famous for being villains, strict, unfair, mean, hostile, demanding, arrogant, dictatorial, unscrupulous, [insert too your favourite adjective here] –which is why the lunchroom is also the forum for angst again bosses. We hold grudges and it’s only healthy to air them out.
But here’s what we know: if you really love your job, don’t let your boss get in the way.
- Keep silent. Silence is still accurate. This should not be taken though as equivalent to “putting up with the lousy boss.” Keeping silent means knowing where you stand in your job. For the meantime that you still can handle the pressure, just adopt a Zen attitude towards the issue and keep silent. The more you react, the more the bad guys will attack. But if you remain unfazed, they’ll get bored and move to a more willing prey. Be professional in the workplace. If others aren’t, it’s no excuse that you should follow suit.
- Assert yourself. It’s about time we used what they’ve been teaching us in school. Where silence fails, you should then say what you have to say. But say it in the right way, or else you risk losing your job.
If, for instance, you get flooded with requests already beyond your human capabilities, or which are no longer laid out in your job description, or which you are certain the boss is just throwing your way when someone else could do it, say a firm No and suggest another course of action to solve it.
If, for instance, you hear a remark or joke which is out of limits of decency, sensitivity, and plain goodwill, then, point it out. For all you know, the offending party may have no clue whatsoever about the nature of comments just unleashed, so tell them about it and that you would appreciate it if it didn’t happen again. Of course, keep in mind who’s the boss here, so watch out for your words and tone. There are cases where silence is your best weapon, but sometimes a firm, polite word also does the job.
- Say sorry. We’re just human beings, prone to mistakes and outburst. In case you yourself, in your attempt at assertiveness, unleashed some pretty hard-knocking words at your boss’s direction, it’s not always the end of the world nor your job. Allow a few hours, or days (depending on the need) for the incident to blow-over, then resolutely walk into her or his office, and say sorry, what you did was inexcusable, etc. etc. Try to tell the boss too your side of the story, and what you feel about certain issues in your boss-employee, superior-inferior relationship which you can work out together. Let’s just hope your boss is clearheaded so that you don’t just redeem your job and your title but your dignity as well.
- Walk away. Then again, if your boss is really villainous, strict, unfair, mean, hostile, demanding, arrogant, dictatorial, unscrupulous, [insert your favourite adjective here], and no amount of peaceful resolution and reconciliation will do, it might be time for you to leave the job. No job, and no boss—and for that matter—no person should ever trample on you. If you feel you’re not growing in your job anymore, then find a better one, and this time, a cool boss too.
Neoli Marcos is the Content Provider for OzFree Job Posting Online. Oz Free Online Job Search provides an employment and job listing opportunity in Australia. Post resumes and let employers with job openings find you. |
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