How To Deal With Your Crazy Boss

Helpful tips to keep a cool head in the workplace!

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On a daily basis, nearly all of our interactions involve representatives of organizations or occur within organizations. With so much of our communication occurring within this context, it is important to learn how to communicate effectively with an organization and within an organization.

One of the most common forms of organizational communication occurs in the workplace where good organizational communication skills will help enhance business success. Organizational communication occurs with coworkers, but more importantly, with supervisors. Supervisor-subordinate communication is one of the most important types of organizational communication because many subordinates aim to please their supervisors in order to keep their jobs, get a raise, or climb the corporate ladder.

But although the goal is to keep the boss happy, at some point, everyone has a boss that they struggle to deal with. To help you deal with that crazy boss of yours, we've taken the advice of Ronald Riggio, Ph.D., Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, and author of Cutting Edge Leadership, and Dr. Fathi El-Nadi, Ph.D. and Management and HR Development Senior Consultant, as well as researched organizational communication to compile this how-to guide of dealing with your boss.

1. Breaking the Bad News Lightly

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Upward distortion is a form of subordinate-superior communication that occurs when subordinates are hesitant to communicate negative information to their superiors. Attempting to appeal to their supervisor, subordinates present critical material in a favorable, perhaps even enthusiastic manner! Although this form of communication often has negative implications, upward distortion is effective in particular situations because it can prevent the exacerbated anger of your boss.

2. Keep the Lines of Communication Open- But Not Too Open

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When dealing with a difficult boss, open communication is key. As a subordinate, you must be willing to openly discuss your own ideas or your issues with your supervisor. On the flip side, you should also be open to listening to what your boss has to say (even if they don’t always say it in a nice way).

Part of being open in your communication also involves avoiding conveying negative or disconfirming feedback. If your boss chooses to be open and honest with you about something, avoid negative feedback that could upset them.

Open communication will create an environment of trust and honesty that will strengthen your supervisor-subordinate relationship. However, there is such thing as being too open. Avoid divulging details to your supervisor that are reveal too much about your personal life.

3. Motivation to Beat Your Boss

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By becoming personally involved in the workplace and motivated to succeed, any tough boss can become manageable. Setting clear and specific goals for yourself can create a motivated attitude in which you work to succeed for yourself, instead of for your boss. This will help you see past your boss and see the bigger picture of your own well-being and success.You can also find motivation by being prideful and creating satisfaction in performing well at the workplace. Working for satisfaction and finding one's job enriching will keep you motivated to perform well and do your job, regardless off a terrible boss!

4. Keep a Cool Head

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The ability to think rationally in the workplace is crucial to securing a healthy and respectful relationship between you and your boss. Thinking rationally implies that one be reasonable- this means not lashing out on your boss, no matter how much you might want to. Basing your behavior on sensible, rather than impulsive decisions, may be difficult, yet it ensures a healthy relationship between you, your boss and your associates.

5. It’s Okay to Kiss Ass

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Everyone hates to do it, but at some point, it's your last resort. For bosses who you can never seem to please, sucking up to them can be the only way that you can get on their good side. If you have too much pride to suck up to your boss, know that it's more common than you think. In fact, it's so common that there's even a technical term for sucking up. Ingratiation is a communication word that refers to communication and behavior designed to increase liking. Ingratiation can include being extra friendly to your boss- especially when you know they're having a bad day- or going the extra mile to make your boss feel important.

6. Look for allies and support from others

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In all workplaces there is going to be negative and positive energy coming from your boss and colleagues. From experience, many people who are employed complain about their bosses to their coworkers overtime. This can cause much drama if information gets around to the wrong person or people. The best way to handle these types of situations and still have a professional and friendly environment is to simply help each other out. Instead of gossiping, focus on building a dynamic team and being supportive. This takes away the negativity going around the air. Not only should you improve with others but also improve yourself on tasks given. Improving yourself can impress your boss or other supervisors that you are more than capable of consistency and productivity. And in the end of any employment, your past experiences and impressions will put a good word in for you.

In the popular movie Horrible Bosses, three unhappy employed men are put through harassed, insulted, and terrorized by their bosses. One drunken night they plot a scheme to get back at their bosses. Now realistically you wouldn't go around planning on intentionally hurting people but this shows they work as a team to eventually become their own boss.

7. Confidence over Cockiness

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Taking the right steps towards showing the correct amount of assertiveness can be tricky. If you don’t show enough assertiveness in your workplace, your advisor may misconstrue your interest in your position. Yet, showing over-assertiveness can rub off as being a little bit on the cocky side.

It’s important to find the perfect balance between being assertive and having your voice heard and not steamrolling over others. If your boss doesn’t acknowledge your effort in the workplace, it is never a bad idea to work harder and show more assertiveness rather than passiveness. If your boss doesn’t take the time to take your opinion into account, be assertive in having him take the time to listen to you. Just be sure not to be too assertive, or your confidence may rub your boss the wrong way.