Are You a Professional Dealing With a Horrible Boss? Top 3 Secrets for Winning - Part 1

"My boss is always yelling," said an attorney when listing the primary reasons for wanting to change not only jobs but careers. A friend who overheard this and who works on his own remarked that he couldn't believe things like that happened in "professional" environments. As a veteran of law firm life and someone who has experienced and figured out how to survive and successfully deal with more than one "horrible boss," I let him know it's not that uncommon. This recent article about Horrible Bosses and Poor Leadership in Fast Company confirms it.

There's nothing worse than going to work everyday and facing a horrible boss. It can stifle your productivity, be depressing, debilitating, sabotage your confidence, wipe out your self-esteem and burn you out faster than you can say "I'm outta here!" So how can you outsmart a horrible boss and lessen internal conflict to maintain productivity, stay focused and accomplish your personal and professional achievement goals on the job? Here are 3 tips for dealing with a horrible boss: 

1.  A winning strategy.  Martha's boss was always "holding her back" from developing her skills and wasn't giving her recognition for all that she did. She was tired of being a victim. After analyzing her situation we developed a strategy for Martha to break-out of this pattern by figuring out how her boss could win and she could win too. Martha convinced her joining some organizational committees would be good for both of them. It helped the boss with intel and gave Martha greater exposure and recognition. She was soon noticed and scooped up by a more appreciative boss who saw her value. Working up a winning strategy takes some personal reflection and its helpful if someone who is independent from your situation can help you see opportunities that can better your situation. 

2.  Be willing to shift. We've all heard it a million times and unfortunately it's true -- you can't change someone else you can only change yourself. Be willing to change how you operate or respond to situations to get a different, more positive outcome. To paraphrase Dr. Phil, how is what you're doing now work'en for ya? If what you are doing now was effective you wouldn't be looking for a way out. A willingness to change how you look at things or react is an essential element of a winning strategy.
 
3.  Set limits. Determine how much you're willing to tolerate and set a timeline for making a change. Just the simple act of setting a timeline can give you a feeling of relief. You'll begin to see a spark at the end of a tunnel of what probably feels like a very long, hard traveled road. 


Dealing with a horrible boss on your own isn't easy, especially if you're in a management position, don't have anyone to talk to and can't trust your colleagues. This is when a coach, mentor or trusted adviser can help you by brainstorming creative solutions that overcome obstacles, give you a ray of hope, keep you motivated, or help you make the progress you haven't been able to make on your own. Coaches like me offer long-term and short-term laser sessions focused on your current dilemma so you can zero in and develop a winning strategy to deal with your difficult boss and improve your work situation for a better life. Contact me or use my automated calendaring system to schedule a complimentary session.

Do you have a question you'd like addressed in Part 2 or a tip you'd like to share? Leave your comment below. 

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, helps professionals and managers who want to improve their work situation and build a better life achieve their goals in work and in life through personal achievement coaching and authentic career development. Find out more at her website. 

What Do You Love?

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you." — Maya Angelou

Have you ever noticed sometimes when people ask you what you love to do, what you want to do, or what you do for fun that you don't have an answer? It's hard to be in that place and respond with a "I'm not sure" or "I don't know."  

Not knowing what you love can come from doing everything you don't want to do for so long that you can't remember what it is you love, or how it feels to do something you love. If this is the case, think back to a time when you were loving life. Write down the situation you were in, who you were with and what you were doing. This exercise will give you some hints to what brings you joy. 

It could be that you're just starting out in your career and you haven't discovered what you love yet. Some people go through years of struggle trying to figure out what they were meant to do. If you're ready to do what you love now, take some time for personal reflection to find out what it is. 

If you're in a transition that forces you to re-evaluate what's meaningful, or that tests your metal from going through a divorce, retiring, recovering from a life threatening illness, or re-establishing yourself after a move to a new town you know what it's like to be in that "no man's land." But even with changes going on in your life, you still have an authentic you that wants to express and when it does you're living what you love.  

No matter what stage you're in, finding what you love comes from knowing who you really are. Discovering your authentic style puts you in touch with what motivates you, why you like certain things, why things bug you and what stops you. Knowing what makes up the real you makes it easier to find your path to a meaningful career, friends and activities that energize you, and a life so full of passion and joy that people will look on in awe because they can't take their eyes off you!

If you're ready to discover who you really are so you can do more of what you love, Linda Hardenstein helps new job seekers, retirees, and professionals who hate their job, find the career and get the life you'll love.  Click here to find out more.

Have you found your authentic career or what you love to do? What got you there? Leave a comment.

Productivity and Work Life Balance - It Can be Done!

Is it possible to be productive without working so hard? Evidently so according to The Business Insider's article on the ability of the French to work shorter hours and produce more. 

Clients who take my Overwhelm Busters® classes learn about a productivity study conducted at a major corporation some years ago. A group of employees were asked to spend an hour of their work day doing absolutely nothing (this down time was in addition to their lunch hour). At the conclusion of the study those who did nothing for an hour a day saw an increase in productivity.

When we give ourselves some down time our brains get an opportunity to process things and come up with creative ideas or solutions to our most pressing problems. Why not take a lesson from the French and give ourselves a break? 

This summer is the perfect time to do your own experiment. Give yourself some well-deserved rest and down time and see how much more you get done. Let me know how it goes by leaving me your comments!

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, is a personal achievement coach who helps women professionals leverage their high potential, develop authentic careers and make powerful decisions that increase their profitability and effectiveness. Contact her through her website.