When you have an impossible manager, quit? Sometimes that’s impossible. If you find yourself in this situation, here are eleven things you should consider. 1.Company culture 2.Everything else is excellent 3.Your outlook 4.Are you in
loop? 5.Age and career potential of manager 6.Support, life skills 7.Change departments or jobs
1.COMPANY CULTURE
This may be single most important thing. I’ve visited many offices and each one had its own distinct culture. All companies have same policies and procedures handbook, basically, because it has to do with legal, but it’s unwritten rules that dictate.
I can recall some where hostility seemed to be policy. You could cut tension with a knife. This will make company ultimately dysfunctional, but that won’t mitigate potential damage to your health if you remain. Don’t think “This place is really sick … but I’ll be fine.” It doesn’t work that way.
If you haven’t worked in a lot of different places, or are new to your career, you may not be aware of how distinct this particular culture is or how ingrained it is. Like attracts like, and people who hire will continue hiring people like themselves, so it will get worse, not better. Therefore there’s little hope you’ll get a better manager when this one leaves. Understand that you aren’t going to be changing it all by yourself. Your choices are to leave, or to get support and build your lifeskills to deal with situation. However, understand it’s going to prevail, and will impact your life negatively. Consider carefully what you’re getting out of it that could possibly make up for that.
2.EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXCELLENT
I’ve only heard this comment from someone relatively new to a job. You can count on fact that after a certain point of time, negatives will outweigh positives, but here’s way to handle that.
“I love my job,” my client Dominica told me. “It has sort of challenge and variety I love. I’ve never had such latitude. It’s a place where I can gain skills I need to move to next level. I get to speak to civic groups a couple of times every week, and there’s even live TV and radio. Where else could I get this? The only thing wrong is Harry and his nit-picking, micro-managing. He’s only thing that holds me back.” She went on to glow about working conditions, good equipment, and benefits.
If it’s a position that will move your career path forward and you’re acquiring excellent skills, what should you do? Consider it a temporary position, get skills you need, see point 6, and be looking all time for your next career move. Chances are you will get enough good out of situation to balance negatives.
Do not get lulled into staying there. A bad manager will ultimately cause more harm than good.
3.YOUR OUTLOOK
Your attitude, optimism and mindfulness are crucial. You must be clear about what’s going on. You must be able to see what manager is feeding into equation so you can keep it separate.
