Handling Difficult Boss (Compiled)

[kyu simon]

Recently my boss temper was very bad ; he would get irritated very easily and became very impatient with everyone. He would keep reminding us to complete our assignment a few times a day , which could be just given and whenever you ask for his views , he would either talk about the outstanding tasks or anyhow give his inputs. I find that he's not competent of the position and as a leader , he only knows how to push and send reminders and give meaningless or irrelevant pointers.

Anyone , has any tips or views on how to handle such difficult boss ( who is also an employee of the company ) ?

[Guest FattChoy88]

Sometimes u gotta think about the pressure bosses face. unlike u who take care of ur own ricebowl, a boss need to take care of all his subourdinate's rice bowl.

I suggest you work harder.

Always tell him everything is under control and dont argue with the boss.

good luck.

Recently my boss temper was very bad ; he would get irritated very easily and became very impatient with everyone. He would keep reminding us to complete our assignment a few times a day , which could be just given and whenever you ask for his views , he would either talk about the outstanding tasks or anyhow give his inputs. I find that he's not competent of the position and as a leader , he only knows how to push and send reminders and give meaningless or irrelevant pointers.

Anyone , has any tips or views on how to handle such difficult boss ( who is also an employee of the company ) ?

[Tight Ass]

Recently my boss temper was very bad ; he would get irritated very easily and became very impatient with everyone. He would keep reminding us to complete our assignment a few times a day , which could be just given and whenever you ask for his views , he would either talk about the outstanding tasks or anyhow give his inputs. I find that he's not competent of the position and as a leader , he only knows how to push and send reminders and give meaningless or irrelevant pointers.

Anyone , has any tips or views on how to handle such difficult boss ( who is also an employee of the company ) ?

Give him two tight slaps and fire him with a letter and wish him good luck in his future endeavour in the company.

[Guest Guest]

Sometimes u gotta think about the pressure bosses face. unlike u who take care of ur own ricebowl, a boss need to take care of all his subourdinate's rice bowl.

I suggest you work harder.

Always tell him everything is under control and dont argue with the boss.

good luck.

I disagree. Yes, boss has more pressure. Yes, boss taking care of all his sub-orbinate. Yes, he/she is being paid to do just that. Yes, he/she is getting the reward from our hardwork. Yes, we should work harder. Yes, boss should inspire us more. Yes, he/she is boss but he/she is not god/goddess. Can't take it, don't be a boss. If you suck at it, then be it. Don't expect us to take your shit.

=)

[Guest PacificO]

I agree. I used to head a dept some years ago and I took care of my staffs well. My job was to make sure that they were happy and excel in wahtever they were doing. I was always slow to anger (anger is fear and is a sign of low EQ) . I would buy them breakfasts, distribute freebies I got from vendors to them, celebrate their birthdays, rolled up my sleeves to help them if they could not handle their work. I am more like a big brother to them. I left my personal problems at the office door. Try to be nurturing and patient to your subordinates, they would reciprocate in kind (most of the time except for some ungrateful ones)

I disagree. Yes, boss has more pressure. Yes, boss taking care of all his sub-orbinate. Yes, he/she is being paid to do just that. Yes, he/she is getting the reward from our hardwork. Yes, we should work harder. Yes, boss should inspire us more. Yes, he/she is boss but he/she is not god/goddess. Can't take it, don't be a boss. If you suck at it, then be it. Don't expect us to take your shit.

=)

[mp440028]

I disagree. Yes, boss has more pressure. Yes, boss taking care of all his sub-orbinate. Yes, he/she is being paid to do just that. Yes, he/she is getting the reward from our hardwork. Yes, we should work harder. Yes, boss should inspire us more. Yes, he/she is boss but he/she is not god/goddess. Can't take it, don't be a boss. If you suck at it, then be it. Don't expect us to take your shit.

=)

Well, maybe one day when you become boss, you will then know what it is like. Funny how they get villianized when they have to turn on the pressure..... and when they don't and things go wrong, they get villianized too.....

[Guest Guest]

Give him two tight slaps and fire him with a letter and wish him good luck in his future endeavour in the company.

Grap hold of the boss's head and stuff it into TightAss ass...

[Guest Clubber]

If my boss is an ugly old fxxk and behave bossily, I will send his two balls flying into the air. If he is charmingly handsome, I will do anything he bids me to do. :whistle:

[Andy@Tokyo]

If the job is important to u and his temper is not relevant to ur promotion or bonus, etc.. concentrate to excel in ur own work and ignore his bad temper.

Am sure u are not the only one that cannot tahan his behavior, so make friends with others in the coy that u can get along well. Seek their opinion instead. Also, i believed that there are some in the office who overcame this problem u faced in their unique ways. Learn from them, talk to them if possible.

If the job is something u dont like and u have a ticket to another company, change Job.

[Tight Ass]

Especially local boss, if I see them bossy I will stuff their ass with fire crackers and tie his dick with electrical wire before turning on the switch. That is if he want to be bossy to a tight ass.

For Ang Mo boss, I will crossed by legs while sitting up, put one hand on my chin to hold it and than glowed my eyes into his with full attentiveness when he chided me and than fantasize if his dick is as big as most asian boss here. :whistle:

[UFO]

If my boss is an ugly old fxxk and behave bossily, I will send his two balls flying into the air. If he is charmingly handsome, I will do anything he bids me to do. :whistle:

[/quote

Ermmm.... that's how the word bossy come from, isn't it? LOL

[cock brand]

There are no perfect boss.

There are also no perfect employee.

There are immatured bosses

There are also childish employees.

So stop whining for a moment and ask this question first - are you a perfect and mature subordinate?

[Guest -Butted-]

Apple polishing..or licking his arse. Walk his dog. Kowtow...or kiss his foot. There are many ways of cooling him down by being a lesser human.

Do i my way. Dont give a fuxk about him. Tell him where you dont agree...or agree to disagree...albeit tactfully. The more you fear about losing your job, there more you will be atken advantage of. Dont allow that to happen. Thankfully, after all these, my boss is afraid of me instead.

[Tight Ass]

So stop whining for a moment and ask this question first - are you a perfect and mature subordinate?

My Tight Ass is flawless.

[UFO]

My Tight Ass is flawless.

Hmm... Really???? LOL I think I can see that from the pic!!!

[cock brand]

My Tight Ass is flawless.

Agree.

Its a flawless auntie ass; soft, smooth and wobbles like jelly. :thumb:

[Guest ex-boss]

On his retirement, one my ex-bosses tried to re-establish contact with me though a third party when I was no longer in the same company. I declined, making known my displeasure with him. Whether this was disclosed to him by the third party is irrelevant to me. What matters is that at least someone knows.

He was a self-caring and insecure departmental head with no leadership qualities. He failed to appreciate that the basis of his ‘security’ was the staff working under him. I came to this conclusion after experiencing working with other bosses so different from him.

Incidentally, he was demoted after I had left the company and lacked paper qualification to seek employment in another establishment.

[Guest Cannot tahan]

Her qualitification is lower than mine. She is only a dip holder and holding a GM post, yet she displayed such nasty attitude towards me and I have the knowledge she did not have because she worked like...20 years in her previous company and blur like sotong about the world outside. Yet she yaya papaya and arrogant and stress me out by telling me "she knows best". WTF!

Should I quit? I think i should.

[Guest guest]

wats the problem man? if u needed this salary than stay put. if u think u can find another post that can fetch higher salary than quit.some time have to lower down yrself if u are under a GM. too bad u only a worker.different ppl have different life. they dun care if u quit, cause yr post can easily be replace by FT with a even lower salary.anyone can take over yr work, is a matter of practice and time.

[Guest 仙人掌]

Her qualitification is lower than mine. She is only a dip holder and holding a GM post, yet she displayed such nasty attitude towards me and I have the knowledge she did not have because she worked like...20 years in her previous company and blur like sotong about the world outside. Yet she yaya papaya and arrogant and stress me out by telling me "she knows best". WTF!

Should I quit? I think i should.

Long time never come to BW. The last post I did a "bazi" (八字) reading for this BW member (right click here see post).

Dear Cannot Tahan, I would like to share with you two seperate and distinctive points regarding your hatred (you dislike her) and unfairness (her post higher than you). Hope after reading, take some time to think to let it go.

Point 1 - Hatred

Certain things you see may be unfair. However, if you were to believe past or previous life, you may view it differently.

The reason you hate her may be your past life. 多半跟前世很有关系。A person whom you know or get acquaintance with, definitely has to do with past lifes.

Hope you can force yourself and accept my reason why you hate her. However, there are ways to dissolve your hatred between you and her instantly.

Point 2 - Unfairness

Some people are fated to hold high ranking post, while some are not. Despite a person excel academically, it does not mean s/he is capable of doing the job. 命中注定。

I have read many people 八字。A person can be smart and brilliant but he may not be able hold high ranking post/job. Similarly, a low educated person, may able to climb ladder higher.

Case 1

My neighbour graduated out from ITE, does not have a good family. Throughout his hardworkout these years, his current pay is higher than most University graduates' pay. 买了房子，发达了！八字走10年大运，喜用神入命格。

Case 2

The sex scandal （雏妓案） involving Gov't white horses. Her pretty wife (high ranking post in MHA) divorced with him and requested to post out to another Ministry. I got to see this man 八字。八字日座沐浴，桃花入格，国印有力。用神变忌神，正官无力。He was once a high flyer but that does not last long. 八字shown that he faces court case.

八字大运无喜用入格，life can be very miserable. Please do not get angry anymore of why she deserves to hold high position than you. Either you are fated can't sit high chair or your time hasn't come.

[Guest 仙人掌]

wats the problem man? if u needed this salary than stay put. if u think u can find another post that can fetch higher salary than quit.some time have to lower down yrself if u are under a GM. too bad u only a worker.different ppl have different life. they dun care if u quit, cause yr post can easily be replace by FT with a even lower salary.anyone can take over yr work, is a matter of practice and time.

I agree with the post.

Either stay or leave. Two choices to choose.

[dannysuz]

I was criticized by my boss for not meeting his expectation. His expectation changed every hour. His goal was to make me quit so that he could replace me with his malaysian friend. I knew his malaysian friend after I quit. My advice is: If she does not need you, there is no point staying back. Your health is the most important. You may have high blood pressure under high stress working environment. But, money is still important. I am jobless for more than one year... Think twice.

[Guest Guest]

I was criticized by my boss for not meeting his expectation. His expectation changed every hour. His goal was to make me quit so that he could replace me with his malaysian friend. I knew his malaysian friend after I quit. My advice is: If she does not need you, there is no point staying back. Your health is the most important. You may have high blood pressure under high stress working environment. But, money is still important. I am jobless for more than one year... Think twice.

Make sure after you leave, things collapsed. Machines may be able to many things, but many things still need to be monitored by humans. I know if I am to dump my work immediately, most of the work which I am working on will collapse immediately. Even if people may be able to pick up the pieces slowly after that, it will still be a while before it recover. So take some enjoyment in that.

Also, like I had mentioned in my previous advice to you, please make sure you go flood the entire job boards with your resumes as quickly as possible. Unemployment poison the mind much more than the lack of money. Every 100 resumes you send out may only get you 3-4 interviews. Take care.

[firereaver]

My boss is a bit difficult. He's fickle minded, keep having sudden inspiration and then wanted to embark on it by asking us to do it and can't seem to confirm any designs. Every time show him updates, he's only on the lookout for more things to change until can have ten drafts or so! And his planning is always last minute.

[doncoin]

There are a few rules which I've learnt from running my own business and managing a small team when working in the corporate world, and I thought I share them here.

Managing Expectations:

The boss and the subordinate need to manage their expectations of each other. Be honest and realistic about the abilities of each other. I.e. You are the one project at a time time versus good at multi-tasking type. So if your boss asks you to work on more than one project at the time, let him know that you are focusing on Project A at the moment, and if it is not urgent, you will work on the Project B after A is done.

Managing expectations comes from communicating honestly with your boss. That way, it also allows your boss to know your abilities better and can match projects etc. more efficiently, and show you areas where you can improve on at work.

Praise in Public, Reprimand in Private:

When someone on my team does well and deserve the acknowledgement, we praise that person or persons during team meeting. If someone screws up badly without a good reason, I close the door and have a chat with that person. It is a lesson I learnt from my ex-boss who showed me how important it is to make an employee feel appreciated, and validated before their peers and when I did screw up, and know I deserve it, she would close the door and we have a chat on why I screwed up and how we can prevent it from happening again.

Don't be Afraid to Speak Up:

Bosses are humans and is prone to screw up and make mistakes. If you spot something amiss, don't be afraid to speak up, but do in the privacy of your boss' office. Air your concerns.

Good bosses will also spend time with their team and get to know them better. I've learnt to schedule monthly lunch or coffee breaks etc. with people on my team to catch up. Find out about their lives. What do they want to do in the future? What projects interest them? How can I help them achieve their career objectives?

If bosses are being unreasonable, find out how you can improve the situation versus kvetching about it. Talk to your boss.

Make Your Boss Look Good:

This may be challenging for some to wrap their heads around the concept. Basically your job is to make your boss look good at the end of the day. By getting your job done is making your boss look good. It is not about kissing your boss' ass or flatter him/her. It is about doing your job you are hired to do, and do well. Stop expecting a gold star every time you've accomplished something at work. You're paid to do so.

By doing your job well, and making your boss look good, you will look good to your boss.

Hope this helps.

Edited January 17, 2013 by chelseasian

[dannysuz]

八字不合. If your boss does not like you, no matter how hardworking you are and how many good jobs you did. He still condemn you. The boss's pet will be promoted without any accomplishment and you will be under "need to be improvement" group. Good luck.

[Guest Lifeless]

There are a few rules which I've learnt from running my own business and managing a small team when working in the corporate world, and I thought I share them here.

Managing Expectations:

Praise in Public, Reprimand in Private:

Don't be Afraid to Speak Up:

Make Your Boss Look Good:

Hope this helps.

Honestly speaking, the kind of scenes you painted are ideal for workers. In reality, about 90% of companies in Singapore fail in the criterias you set. I strongly believe it has to do with asian culture, competitiion stress, family upbringings, ego mentality. Ask them what their staff turnover like, they will rant that it is hard to keep Singaporeans in their company for long and deny all the reason for the cause of it.

[dannysuz]

I agreed to Lifeless. Only those born in Singapore understand the singapore culture and stress we have. This is why my dad worked for his boss for 40 years because of his boss understanding and kindness. Too bad, we work in MNC (multi national country). The FTs are here to earn as much as they can and then leave for their luxury life in their home country. Will they care about your life and future ? If you applied leave to take care your parent, they will say that you are 'eat snake". The FTs are young and energetic and with no commitment in here, 100% working. Who will employ Singaporean who always late, go back on time and on leave ?

[MeowPrince]

While not EVERY company/business that employs staff practices what Chelseanian has listed, many do. And that includes most public sector organisations and most MNCs. At the end of the day, it is each individual supervisor to decide how much of it to practice. And the points he has mentioned are applicable to everyone and every workplace.

Managing expectations - even one as the employee, should learn to manage his/her own expectations. If you expect your boss to accomodate your every whim and fancy, that's just unreasonable. Tie it in with the following point - if you do not speak up, or ask, you cannot expect your expectations to be known or clarified or given a chance.

(this is unfortunately a very common failing of the conservative Asian mindset, to "bear it in silence".... see next point)

Don't be afraid to speak up - also known as Managing Your Boss. Speaking up doesn't mean blasting your boss in front of anyone. Nor does it mean complaining all the time. It is learning and knowing how to get him/her to accept/appreciate you and to listen to you, at the Right Time, Right Place. And it isn't something that is easy to do nor can it be taught in a classroom. You learn with experience, because every boss is different.

(and if you do not learn to speak up, or choose to bear things in silence, you have only yourself to blame)

Just these two points alone is what I encounter with two thirds of the parttimers I hire. And that's after passing them through the interview. The youngsters (below 25) whine and cry and rant about not being told what not to do, while the older ones (over 35) complain that client requests are too troublesome for them.

Making your boss look good - the reason why someone is hired is so that he/she can contribute to the company and make the boss look good. It isn't any case for ass-kissing. It is plain simple business logic. When I joined the civil service, it was because the directors at the interview wanted me to do something that would make the ministry look good. Everything that came after was all in the negotiation after I joined. When I went into private sector, it was a case of how much value I could add - and the foreigners there were definitely better than me, so there was tough competition.

I'll add one more critical factor - Your Attitude. That determines how high/far you go. Remember that you ALWAYS have a choice. But be prepared to bear the consequences of which choice you make. You can choose to quit and wallow in misery (mostly self-induced), or you can choose to do something positive out of it. Both carry it own amount of difficulty and pain, but you get to choose which to go for.

Whether it is the interview stage or the actual working, you always get to choose. Bear in mind that the opposite party is also choosing.

Good luck.

[dannysuz]

All the above come to one word " Por Lan Par ". If you can make your boss siong siong, he will listen to you and you can manage him. If you do not know how to carry balls, please continue to be obedient worker. Be a hero will die first !!!. Those theories are only for those who are rich and do not worry about losing his job.

[Guest -hopelesd case-]

All the above come to one word " Por Lan Par ". If you can make your boss siong siong, he will listen to you and you can manage him. If you do not know how to carry balls, please continue to be obedient worker. Be a hero will die first !!!. Those theories are only for those who are rich and do not worry about losing his job.

With your attitude if I am interviewer sure won't want!

How does that sound to you?!?

[doncoin]

All the above come to one word " Por Lan Par ". If you can make your boss siong siong, he will listen to you and you can manage him. If you do not know how to carry balls, please continue to be obedient worker. Be a hero will die first !!!. Those theories are only for those who are rich and do not worry about losing his job.

I disagree with what you say. I don't think kissing my ass is part of any job description or requirement and I don't think we hire people for that role.

My business partner and I look for employees who can be team players and have a mind that can contribute to the team and the company. We value employees on what they can contribute to the company versus their ability to "por lan par" which we don't really care for. When we step into the office, the minimum requirement is we conduct ourselves professionally and do the best we can. If you wake up in the morning, and are not excited to go to work, you need to examine your life and figure what motivates you and move in that direction. That is why it is very important to me and my business partner to have a team of people who are passionate about what they do and why they come into the office to work because they believe in the work that we do as a team.

We strive for work/life balance as much as we can. That is why if someone finishes their work early and have nothing else to do, I say go home and enjoy the time versus sitting in the office. At the very least, we have to respect our team members as responsible adults until proven otherwise. Yes, there will be times when we may come across as difficult to our team members because of what is demanded, but we also communicate as to why we have to be so demanding- i.e. meeting a super tight deadline.

These theories are not for those who are rich or not worry about losing their jobs. It is for those who know what they can do, and are excited to be doing them.

[Guest Guest]

I disagree with what you say. I don't think kissing my ass is part of any job description or requirement and I don't think we hire people for that role.

My business partner and I look for employees who can be team players and have a mind that can contribute to the team and the company. We value employees on what they can contribute to the company versus their ability to "por lan par" which we don't really care for. When we step into the office, the minimum requirement is we conduct ourselves professionally and do the best we can. If you wake up in the morning, and are not excited to go to work, you need to examine your life and figure what motivates you and move in that direction. That is why it is very important to me and my business partner to have a team of people who are passionate about what they do and why they come into the office to work because they believe in the work that we do as a team.

We strive for work/life balance as much as we can. That is why if someone finishes their work early and have nothing else to do, I say go home and enjoy the time versus sitting in the office. At the very least, we have to respect our team members as responsible adults until proven otherwise. Yes, there will be times when we may come across as difficult to our team members because of what is demanded, but we also communicate as to why we have to be so demanding- i.e. meeting a super tight deadline.

These theories are not for those who are rich or not worry about losing their jobs. It is for those who know what they can do, and are excited to be doing them.Good day chelseaasian thanks for your post I learn much from it.im guessing the Danny guest is feeling disheartened with local work culture n is just voicing out his frustration n not meant to offend people. The general feeling I get is that local employers doesn't value their employees much. They r more interested in cheaper labour costs.its like working in a sweatshop nowadays here.

[doncoin]

I think it is all about mentality. Start looking at employees as people who have something to contribute versus as people to exploit.

A thing I always tell clients who complain about costs to me is "You get what you pay for."

Employees need to remember they have rights as much as their bosses. At the end, everybody is there to work, to achieve their career goals.. Focus on that instead of all the pettiness and mean/negative things.

[abang]

I have this to add:

While I always insist of doing good work in the office and since I am paid to do the job, there are always others

who think that I am carrying my boss. 

No, they failed to realise that each task (however mundane or small) is an opportunity to showcase your talents.

Your boss assess your willingness and enthusiasm in every task. 

 

At the end of the day, don't allow yourself to be replaced by a younger and fresher/keener new employee.

Never compare the pay package at all, you deserve what you are worth.

One thing that employees fail to see is that we leave our job at the end of the day.

We can afford to switch off the minute we work out of the work environment.

 

The boss continues to think about his business 24/7.

Still want to be your own boss?

It is tougher than what we think - the sales, the revenue and the overheads (all the bills!)

Edited May 19, 2013 by abang

[Guest A nobody]

 

 

The boss continues to think about his business 24/7.

Still want to be your own boss?

It is tougher than what we think - the sales, the revenue and the overheads (all the bills!)

No leh, my boss bought big bungalow, owned 4 cars and get all his sons to work in the company directors post paying them obscene salary while my pay remain stagnant.  The more I make them happy with my work, the more they took advantage of me as if I am old and they do charity by keeping me. 

[Guest Iamgoodboss]

speak up to your boss or colleague and tell them how you feel and how you want to be treated, and stay firm and assertive. if they continue to bully you or treat you like shit, stop working for them. they are assholes that treat you like dirt. you deserve better. always stand up for yourself. don't let bosses, colleagues or any person to treat you like dirt. don't believe the lie that you will never find a better job than now.

[stickout]

Recently my boss temper was very bad ; he would get irritated very easily and became very impatient with everyone. He would keep reminding us to complete our assignment a few times a day , which could be just given and whenever you ask for his views , he would either talk about the outstanding tasks or anyhow give his inputs. I find that he's not competent of the position and as a leader , he only knows how to push and send reminders and give meaningless or irrelevant pointers.

Anyone , has any tips or views on how to handle such difficult boss ( who is also an employee of the company ) ?

 

i would talk to my boss personally to say of my concerns in a professional manner. it will sting a bit for both me and my boss, but if you value working together, you may want to consider talking to him about it. of course, you don't tell him he is a bad boss or incompetent, but tell him you prefer to work in a certain manner with him... if he's open to the idea, he will change slowly. if he's not open to it, he will justify his actions. you may actually be enlightened or surprised by his reasons behind his "bad ways" of management. 

 

thing is, some people do things without realising - mostly, because we are pressured not only from work but also from friendships, family, personal finance issues, etc. if after the talk, nothing changes or you don't find his justifications reasonable, you may want to give it time for him to think about it.

 

do a follow-up again after some time. if he changes for the better, remember to praise him.

 

to me, employee-boss relationships don't have to be as it is. we can praise our bosses to build his confidence and morale when he needs it, and we can also talk to him if he is doing something not right.