Handling a selfish boss
By White Flash
@Whiteflash (137)
October 5, 2017 10:34am CST
Working for a 'boss' and not a leader is stressful, but when that 'boss' turns selfish, how do you handle it? Imagine working for them, their organization, and they do not want to provide the materials for you to provide a quality service. And then when quality is lacking, due to improvisation, they blame you, the employee. I'm sure others experience this.
10 people like this
11 responses
@pumpkinjam (8763)
• United Kingdom
5 Oct 17
I don't have any experience working with a selfish boss within an organisation so I can't say about that. However, my current situation, I am working with a person to whom I refer as 'Nightmare Boss'. She employs me as her Personal Assistant. This is supposed to be because she needs help with tasks due to her sight impediment. What she thinks it means is to be at her beck and call, drive her around even if it would be quicker to walk, listen to her complaining about other people, etc. So I do know how it feels to work for a selfish boss! I've worked with toddlers who are less selfish and demanding. The way I dealt with it was by handing in my notice. My mental health was suffering, and I seemed to be projecting her misery onto my family. It's not easy if you don't have another job to go to, of course. I was lucky (well, I say lucky, I have ended up doing exactly the thing I was determined never to do again but working with children is preferable to working with Nightmare Boss!).
If leaving isn't an option, I guess you would just have to be patient. Ask the boss why they won't provide the materials, keep detailed records of everything (eg. having to improvise every time the correct materials aren't available) and, if there is a higher up boss, take the matter to them.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8763)
• United Kingdom
5 Oct 17
@Whiteflash I'm still waiting to see if things will work out for the best! But, yes, I was risking my health and the only reason I stayed as long as I did was for the money. I'm pretty sure I'd have had a mental breakdown if I hadn't found other work.
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
@pumpkinjam lol. Sorry to laugh, but the way you said it just lightened the tension for me. It's about time I really push myself to find other jobs. Cause I did that really search.
1 person likes this
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
Leaving isn't an option since there's no job to go to and bills have to be paid. That's the only reason why one must tolerate the boss. You were brave to leave. It was about time for you since it started affecting your family too. But I guess everything works out for the best, yes? It's tough, but as I see it, it's prepping me for the future. Thanks for your insight.
1 person likes this
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
That's the only motivation to get through the day, knowing that you will be doing something enjoyable after work. But it just gets very stressful. I like your perspective.
2 people like this
@weevee18 (2065)
• Philippines
5 Oct 17
@Whiteflash yes it gets very stressful but we need to focus more on the positives of life. Sometimes I also think that some other people would do eveything just to have a job while I'm stressing about how my boss is :)
2 people like this
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
@weevee18 that's a good way to look at it: that we have the job that others want and need. Guess it's just all we can do, tolerate the boss.
Thank you for the help.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Oct 17
My husband has been dealing with this for quite some time and worse so he's looking for other employment.
Welcome to Mylot by the way! Hope you like it here. :)
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Oct 17
@Whiteflash Yes it got really bad quickly.
I'm glad you like it here. =)
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
It's gotten that bad for him? Sorry for him. Hope he gets betterment. Sometimes these people just do as they please because they are the top management, with no interest of those below.
Thank you, and I'm already finding it very helpful here.
2 people like this
@deorahul (228)
•
5 Oct 17
Currently I am studying so no idea but hope in future I don't have to work under a boss.I would like to be my own boss
.
.@deorahul (228)
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5 Oct 17
@Whiteflash Thank you so much.I am trying my best to be a leader and not only a graduate.
1 person likes this
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
Be your own boss, yes. However, when you do turn a boss, be sure to graduate to a higher level called leader. And don't be a boss to your employees.
All the best with studies. Hope you get to the leader level one day, very soon.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
7 Oct 17
I will get fed up working with this kind of boss, that is why I choose to work from home now, no need to deal with people.
@Friendlypink (3805)
•
6 Oct 17
You can talk to somebody in the human resource department. So it can be addressed properly.
@peachpurple (13962)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 17
that is a horrible boss you have there, might as well resign and get a new boss. Fire him instead.
@pradab (413)
• India
5 Oct 17
@Whiteflash I'm a middle level employee...means there are persons above and below me....I complain about my bosses,but never in a manner that they hear about it....
@Whiteflash (137)
•
5 Oct 17
It reminds me of that movie 'Horrible boss'. Lol. I'm happy it's not that bad for me. Oh well, life. Tough.
1 person likes this
