See difficult people as teachers who provide valuable lessons in self-control, forgiveness, and emotional intelligence.
If you’ve been reading my work, talked to me, or worked with me, you’ll know by now that I consider a culture where feedback flows in all directions and is given and taken with respect is the key to a healthy company and teamwork.
I recognise though that not everyone has the luxury of working in such a structure. More often than not we find companies where politics play a major role; people do power moves and try to climb the ladder.
In many environments managers are not as receptive to feedback as they might claim. Having honest conversations with them is difficult and feedback rarely leads to any meaningful change (and can even put your career in jeopardy!).
If you find yourself in such an environment I encourage you to contact me and I’ll try to help you and your company have a better relationship to feedback and management.
If you aren’t in a position to hire me I have some tips you can follow to keep yourself from harms way when dealing with a difficult manager.
Your goals
Your manager isn’t likely to be very interested in your personal success. You will have to start owning it yourself.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I want to achieve?
- What steps do I need to take to make it happen?
By creating a plan of action and setting achievable goals, you can take control of your career and ensure that you are moving forward in the right direction.
Friction
Some managers are difficult to handle. Every interaction with them seems to be a source of friction and misunderstanding.
To keep the relationships smooth and avoiding unnecessary friction be as professional as possible (stick to facts and handle confrontation tactfully).
Manage laterally
Strengthen your relationships with your peers.
Managing laterally allows you to build a strong network of support and resources, which can be invaluable when facing challenges or seeking guidance.
A strong team with common goals can influence the direction of the team more than you might think it can.
Opportunities
Ineffective managers often miss opportunities and leave gaps you can fill. Lookout for visible opportunities and fill them.
By being proactive and taking initiative, you can fill the gap and take advantage of the opportunity (think long standing issues and improvement initiatives).
This list is by no means a complete list of all the ways to handle a manager that is ineffective, but it’s a start. Just remember that only you are responsible for your own success.
If you consider seeking out mentorship or coaching from an experienced professional, book a free consultation and we’ll figure out how to work together.