Dealing with a Difficult Boss

"When your manager isn't doing a great job of making work meaningful for you, it can be hard to make work meaningful for your own team. While most Americans are highly satisfied with their boss (Minkin, 2023), some of us find ourselves stuck with a manager who isn't performing as we would like. That puts middle managers in a tricky position: responsible for delivering results and motivating their own teams while reporting to a boss who is unskilled, unaware, or unmotivated."

"To begin with, it's important to remember that bad behavior usually isn't an indication that someone is a bad person. Your manager may not realize they are acting unproductively, or may not have had the opportunity to learn good leadership skills. Too many managers were strong individual contributors who were thrown into a management role because they were good at their jobs, not because they were good leaders."

Managers sometimes fail to model effective leadership, leaving middle managers responsible for results while reporting to bosses who are unskilled, unaware, or unmotivated. Bad managerial behavior often reflects lack of awareness or training rather than ill intent. Approaching difficult bosses with curiosity and compassion can open productive dialogue and support lasting change. Identify a manager's priorities and goals to frame proposals in ways that align with their motivations. Use structured approaches, such as the SOAR model, to present ideas and redirect unproductive actions. Developing skill at managing up supports career success and helps teams navigate organizational disruption.

Read at Psychology Today