Everything is perfect, except for one lil’ thing
Nearly half (49%) of employees are unsatisfied with their jobs. They don’t feel like they’re making a difference, or it’s just not where they thought they’d end up in life. But you? You love your job. Maybe it’s the company culture, the work itself, or a really nice paycheck. The only problem? Your boss is a nightmare.
This happens to workers all over the world. They like their jobs, or are paid well, so they can’t afford to quit. But that less-than-great boss makes things difficult. Thinking about quitting? Not so fast—you’ve got options.
- Talk It Out
Yeah, sitting down and having a heart-to-heart with a troublesome boss isn’t the most fun prospect in the world, but it’s a place to start. Before asking your boss for a meeting, sit down and list their troublesome behavior. Be as blunt as you want—this part is just for you. After that, take another look and clean things up before chatting with your boss. Be honest, but polite. Instead of something like “you yell at me every morning, and I’m not your kid,” opt for “I understand how stressful your job can be, but I want to work with you as a team, and yelling doesn’t help with that.”
Hopefully the meeting worked out and your boss changed their behavior! And if they didn’t, the important thing is that you had the meeting. Now you can move on to the next step.
- Look for Another Position in the Company
Companies frequently hire from within. Now that you know your current position isn’t worth saving, keep an eye out for job openings in other departments. You love the company, after all, so see what’s available! If your boss offers any pushback, simply let HR know that you tried to salvage the position, but your concerns were not met.
- Job Search and (Eventually) Quit
Okay, now you’ve tried pretty much everything. If you can’t get a job in another department and your boss is making your life miserable, it’s not worth sticking it out. The bad outweighs the good. But don’t quit right away! It is always much easier to job search when you’re already employed. If you’re worried about getting a reference, just list one of your co-workers or another manager you work with consistently.
Even if you love a job or get a great paycheck, what’s the point if you spend years of your life being unhappy? If you can’t come up with an answer, it’s time to move on.
Have you ever navigated your way through a situation like this? Let us know in the comments section below!
Comments
I had a female boss that cursed worse than a sailor and threw tantrums. I had only worked their for a week. Her father, mother, cousins, aunts and uncles ran the rest of the company. I did not talk it out with her feeling I would have just gotten fired. I instead quit without notice. I did not feel I should give notice and make them waste their time on training me more. Sometimes you are between a rock and a hard place and do not know what to do.