Q: Previously you wrote about a boss that wasn’t following company rules, and you offered several possible valid reasons why he might be doing it. In other words, you gave him the benefit of the doubt. But what about the more likely possibility: that he wasn’t following the rules because he thought he was superior and they didn’t apply to him. As a middle-manager, how do you deal with a boss who acts arrogantly and hurts morale?
You’re right. In my earlier column, I approached the question assuming the manager was well-meaning but clueless. So yes, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But now you’re talking about the boss who is a jerk. I could say “I’m shocked, shocked! to hear they’re out there.” But, of course, I’m not.
A boss that knowingly disregards company policy because he or she can (let’s not forget the female jerks), and who flaunts that ability in front of others –indifferent to their feelings- is exhibiting behavior that we HR people call an “authoritarian” management style.
This is an old-style of management that’s no longer popular in the workplace. As it turns out, this style is not only toxic for morale, it’s also not good for business or for attracting talent. Today’s workers expect a more “participatory” management. So, to answer your question, if I were in a situation where the boss was authoritarian, I’d be looking to move elsewhere.
Why would I be so quick to bail out? Because this is a difficult fight to take on.
If you work in a small business where the boss is also the owner, there’s little likelihood that anything will change, even if you talk about the problem. In fact, it may be job suicide to bring it up.
Best case, if you work in a larger organization, you could try talking to your boss’s boss, but that road is also fraught with peril. You could try reporting anonymously, but the company may not handle it with urgency since the situation doesn’t involve misconduct. But still, when you love other aspects of the job or when quitting is not an option, reporting it anonymously is safe and better than nothing.
© Copyright Eva Del Rio
