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Manage an abusive boss

Managing an Abusive Boss

We spend a large share of our time in our workplace environment, often more time than we spend with family and other personal time. The relationships we have with co-workers and supervisors can have a direct impact not only on the pleasure we get from doing work related tasks but also on our total mental and physical well-being.

A study done in 2000, showed that workers whose supervisors were regarded as abusive left the workplace more often, had less favorable attitudes toward job, life, and the workplace, had greater conflict between their work and family life, and experienced greater psychological stress. The costs of such behavior are high. So what do you need to know to manage the boss from hell? JIU professor Dr. Ruth Achterhof has the answers. Click here for full-length article.

THINKING POSITIVE

Sometimes taking the high road is the best route in dealing with a tyrannical boss. Here are just a few tactics that may improve the dynamic:

  • Increase levels of trust through good communication.
  • Accommodate your responses and perceptions of the boss's communication style.
  • Open up lines of communication by requesting more input.
  • Provide the boss with positive feedback when he or she exhibits desired behavior.