Bad Bosses And the Phoniness of National Boss Day

National Boss Day was October 16—the day you had to paste a smile on your face and pretend that your bad boss was a great boss. The day may have been frustrating because of the phoniness of your outward emotions, but it can be used as motivation to take charge of your work life and career.

Most employees think they are powerless in their relationship with their bad boss and that they just have to put up with bad boss behavior. That’s not true. We’re all human and we all have secret fears and desires. Your boss is no different. Say you have a screamer boss. Screamer bosses usually yell at others because they fear they can’t pull it together when hit with something unexpected, no matter how large or small. Their yelling is a sign of their insecurity. They are just paper tigers. Once you realize why your bad boss behaves the way he does, you hold the power.

There are all types of bad boss types with their own set of remedies. For a screamer boss, be his compass. Take the initiative to stop problems before they start and provide solutions to fix problems when they occur. He looks competent, which is what he desires, and you become invaluable. The screaming will stop, at least at you.

In a 2012 survey by talent management expert DDI, 60 percent of those surveyed reported their boss had damaged their self-esteem, while nearly one-third of employees said their supervisor did not remain calm and constructive when discussing problems. These numbers are unacceptable. There is a solution. Quit looking at your bad boss as some monolithic horror keeping you in misery, and instead look at your boss as a person with fears and desires that you can help resolve. Your importance within the company will rise and the workplace will be a lot quieter. 

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Boss’s Day: October 16—What’s to Celebrate if You Have a Bad Boss?

National Boss Day is October 16. It may be a great opportunity to show your appreciation to a good boss, but what if you have a bad boss? Use the day as a starting point to turn the tables on a bad boss to get what you want at work.

Most bad bosses are so worried about their own job security that they’re not spending a lot of time fretting about you or your career goals. Bad bosses only care about themselves.

There are numerous down sides to working for a bad boss. It can affect your health, family life and, of course, your career. While you are working for a bad boss, no one is helping you develop your skills and talents. No one is supporting your growth and development. If you don’t take the initiative, you’ll continue to be miserable at work and be stuck in a dead-end job.

The best way to change the worker-boss dynamic may seem counter intuitive. Find out what drives your bad boss, his secret fears and desires. Once you know what motivates his actions, you’ll understand how to respond effectively to your boss’s innermost desires. You engage in his success for your success. By doing so, you become valuable to your horrible boss, an ally--and now you have power.

Whether you have a boss that is egomaniacal, someone who is always blaming others or a boss who plays favorites, whatever type of bad boss, they all have underlying fears that make them act the way they do. When you figure out a way to work with your boss’s fears, rather than run away from or confront them, you become golden. You can ask for--and receive--the perks, promotions and bonuses that have eluded you thus far.