Signs Of A Toxic Boss And How To Deal With Them
Does your supervisor or boss make your life so terrible that you hate going to office every day?
Well, it’s not just you. According to a recent study, it has been proved that 41% of U.S. employees claim to have experienced ‘mental harassment’ at workplace, even 50% of employees quit their job to avoid a toxic boss. So, in reality, working for a toxic manager may be quite daunting and has been linked to a variety of health and psychological issues.
Being conscious of what is actually going on around you at work is the very first step in leaving a toxic workplace. Once you have recognized the warning signs of a toxic boss, you can take essential steps to halt the behavior, avoid it altogether or alert someone to it so that you can resume prospering in your profession.
So, in this article, we will explore some useful tips to deal with toxic boss at job. Let’s have a look.
What is a Toxic Boss and Why is It So Awful to Work Under One?
Before dive into how to deal with toxic boss at your workplace, it is crucial to understand what is actually a toxic boss.
A toxic boss refers to a supervisor or manage who exhibits negative behaviors, creates a hostile work environment, and generally makes the work experience difficult for their employees. The term “toxic” implies that their behavior is harmful, detrimental and emotionally draining to the people they oversee. Here are few reasons why having a toxic boss can be incredibly challenging:
A toxic boss often fails to provide adequate support, guidance and constructive feedback to their employees. They may belittle or dismiss their ideas, discourage innovation, or fail to communicate expectations clearly. This lack of guidance can leave employees feeling confused, demotivated and unsure of their work.
Toxic bosses often exhibit micromanagement tendencies, closely monitoring and controlling each and every aspect of their employees’ work. This lack of trust can suppress creativity, hinder personal growth, and develop a sense of frustration and helplessness among employees.
Sometimes, toxic bosses may show favoritism, promoting certain employees based on personal preferences rather than their merit. They may unfairly distribute opportunities, rewards and recognition. All these can create a sense of injustice, lead to dissatisfaction and decrease morale among the rest of the team members.
So, on a simple note, a toxic boss can create a toxic work environment, which has some detrimental effects on employees’ mental as well as emotional well-being, job satisfaction, and their overall productivity.
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9 Signs of Having a Toxic Boss at Your Workplace
Before you know how to deal with toxic bosses at your workplace, it is essential to identify them properly. Here we provide some useful tips:
They Are Always Correct:
They disregard alternative viewpoints because they believe they already know the exact solution. They always elevate those who affirm their correctness and demote those who disagree.
They Take Sides:
Because it is typically not based on performance, this is quite disappointing. Their preferred option offers definite advantages over rivals, such as having great access of assets or advantages that are not available to them.
They Claim Ownership of Your Work:
In the unlikely event that you are given the chance to work on a significant project and produce successful results, they will deliver the outcomes and accept accountability for the work. You may not always even be permitted in the meeting room.
They are Primarily Concerned with Advancing Their Own Careers:
They devote a lot of time to managing and sucking their employees. They do not have enough time or some desire to mentor you. They rarely have some discussion concerning your further development and career progress.
They Never Offer Helpful Criticism:
Whenever you are doing a terrific job, you seldom ever get praise for your efforts or any constructive feedback for that. Toxic bosses only offer you criticism if you ever make any kind of mistake.
They Always Interrupt You in Meetings:
They do not care about hearing other people’s viewpoints. If you speak up in any meeting session, they will purposefully silence you. In addition to this, they might prevent you from participating in any cross-functional meetings or voicing your viewpoint in any public events.
The Lead to Disagreements within the Group:
They create competition against one another on the team in an unhealthy manner to undermine camaraderie.
They Discuss Others Behind Their Backs:
A workplace can become quite poisonous due to gossip. So, be mindful that if someone is talking about other in a gossip, they are probably talking about you as well.
They Make fun of Individuals in Public:
If your boss makes derogatory comments about you in front of your coworkers or embarrasses you, then it is a clear sign of a toxic boss.
You can also check our article on Signs You’re in a Toxic Work Environment
How to Deal with Your Toxic Boss?
When your boss makes you feel incompetent, you may have lost your creativity. And dealing with such a toxic boss can be quite challenging, but with these below-outlined tips you can easily navigate such a situation.
1. Seek Support: Reach out to trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors within or outside the organization. They can provide a listening ear, advice, and perspective. Sharing your experiences with others who understand can help alleviate stress and provide guidance on how to handle the situation.
2. Document Incidents: Keep a record of specific incidents where your boss's toxic behavior occurred. Include dates, times, and descriptions of what transpired. This documentation can serve as evidence if you decide to escalate the situation to HR or higher management.
3. Understand Your Rights and Company Policies: Familiarize yourself with your rights as an employee and your organization's policies regarding workplace behavior, harassment, and conflict resolution. This knowledge will help you understand the steps you can take and the resources available to address the situation effectively.
4. Maintain Professionalism: While it may be challenging, try to remain professional in your interactions with your toxic boss. Focus on your work and strive to meet your responsibilities to the best of your abilities. Avoid engaging in arguments or responding emotionally, as it could escalate the situation further.
5. Communicate Assertively: When necessary, address specific issues with your boss in a calm and assertive manner. Use "I" statements to express how their behavior is impacting you and offer potential solutions. Always try to maintain a respectful tone and try to seek common ground. However, keep in mind that this approach may not always be effective with a toxic boss, so use your judgment.
6. Seek Guidance from HR: If the toxic behavior persists and negatively affects your work environment, consider reporting the issue to your organization's Human Resources department or escalating it to higher management. Provide them with the documented incidents and explain how the behavior is impacting your well-being and productivity.
7. Explore Other Opportunities: If the toxic situation becomes unbearable and efforts to resolve the issue are unsuccessful, you may need to consider seeking alternative job opportunities. Start exploring other options, update your resume, and network to expand your professional contacts. Remember, your mental and emotional well-being are essential, and sometimes the best solution is to remove yourself from a toxic work environment.
Also read our article on How to Write a Resignation Letter
Summing Up On Signs Of A Toxic Boss And How To Deal With Them
Recognizing the signs of a toxic boss is crucial for maintaining a healthy work environment. Toxic bosses exhibit behaviors such as abusive treatment, lack of support, micromanagement, favoritism, and lack of empathy. These behaviors can lead to stress, decreased productivity, and high employee turnover.
To deal with a toxic boss, seek support from trusted colleagues and document incidents to provide evidence if necessary. Understand your rights and company policies, and maintain professionalism in your interactions. If all else fails, explore other job opportunities to prioritize your well-being.
Remember, everyone deserves a positive and supportive work environment, and taking steps to address a toxic boss is essential for your professional growth and happiness.
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