Responding to the Toxic Boss
We've heard a lot recently about what to do with toxic assets, but perhaps a closer-to-home question is, how should we handle a toxic boss?
You know this creature from a hundred yards away-- their yelling at subordinates usually carries that far. It's the boss who dumps grunt work on your desk, usually at the last moment, then micromanages your progress. It's the "leader" who criticizes fellow managers, peers, your co-workers, and partners behind their backs at every opportunity. It's the person who takes full credit for successful projects and reassigns blame for the failed ones.
How do you deal with this person?
In an insightful blog post on Harvard Business Publishing, Annie McKee notes that tempers are running thin these days what with economic chaos, environmental meltdowns, and global pressures. The worst thing you can do, she says, is react in kind, which spreads the toxins even further through the office.
Instead, she says:
- Don't take it personally
- Don't compromise your values
- Be mindful of the urge to fight back
- Fight the temptation to feel victimized
How do you combat (or not) a toxic boss?