Everyone, at some point in their life, will come across a total nightmare of a boss. Some people just aren’t meant to manage while others are just people who let the power of having people under them go to their head. But no matter what the reason, there’s a good chance you will have to deal with a douchebag boss eventually, and it will suck and you will probably cry far more often they’re you’re willing to admit. If not, then thank your lucky stars and give yourself a high-five.
But for the rest of us, the ones not so lucky, here’s how to deal that total douchebag boss.
- Don’t make waves. As much as it sucks, when you have a boss who has clearly been spawned by the devil, it’s best to just try to do things their way. Your douchebag boss might be a douchebag simply because of personality differences, so try to recognize that. This doesn’t mean changing yourself to fit perfectly into what they deem suitable, but it does mean compromising a bit.
- Try to figure out why they’re so evil. Although some people are just naturally horrible, others are that way because they have other stuff going on. Maybe your boss is in the middle of a divorce, a custody battle, or a loved one has just being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. If that’s the case, you can’t fault them. Even the most professional person can’t be expected to hold it together at the office when their personal life is falling apart. In those situations, it’s important to give them a break.
- Be upfront about the situation. Even if your boss is unable to recognize the fact that they’re a miserable human being, they have to be able to at least see that, perhaps, there’s a bit of a communication issue. Since that’s the case, make an appointment with them to talk about how you can work together better. You may not come to resolution right away, but at least you can say you’re trying.
- Keep records of it all. While no job or work environment is ideal, if you’re dealing with a boss that’s really going above and beyond the call of douchebag duty, then you need to keep track of it. Keep a journal of what is being said or done to you, with dates and times. This is going to come in handy when you finally jump ship.
- Don’t bring it home with you. If you have a douchebag boss for 40+ hours out of every week, it can be hard not to leave all the drama and BS at the office, but you really need to; you can’t let it affect you even in your off time. Make a pact with yourself that you’ll leave that stuff lumped up on your desk at work, and when you’re home, your head will be free of them.
- Be brave. If it gets to a point where things are getting worse, communication isn’t helping, and you’re finding that 90 percent of your therapy sessions are spent crying over your boss, then you need to speak up. Get yourself into the HR department, bring your journal of records, and let them know what’s going on.
- Get the hell out of there. Depending on how high up your boss is, they might just get away with being a douchebag forever and, if that’s the case, your best bet is to find another job. Even if your job is your dream job, no amount of torment from someone who has zero respect or appreciation for you is worth it. So, get your chickens in a row, as they say, look for something new and leave.
