The differences between a tough boss and a bad boss - TheJobNetwork

The differences between a tough anfhrer and a schwimmschwimmbad anfhrer - TheJobNetworkThose of us who have been in the work world for a while know all about the dreaded difficult bossthe boss who fills yur thoughts with misery when you think about coming into work each day. The boss who somehow manages to make every work project and task more annoying and less enjoyable for everyone involved, and whos skilled at chipping away at your confidence, self-esteem, and optimism with every encounter. Most of us have had the misfortune of having a difficult boss in our orbits and know just how unfortunate this reality can be. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) In fact, having a difficult boss may actually be worse for you than you even realize. Forbes recently published an article that highlighted a recent study by the University of Manchesters Business School that uncovered a wide range of negative effects from having a toxic boss. unterstellung include higher rates of depression and negativity, lower job satisfaction, worse job performance, and a more pessimistic professional outlookand the ripple effects spill out of the office and all over employees personal lives in a variety of detrimental ways. Clearly, having a difficult boss is not an ingredient for a happy life.That said, not all difficult bosses are created equally. In fact, a clear distinction should be made between the two types of difficult bossestough bosses and bad bosses. The short- and long-term effects they can have on you can be completely different, so it pays to know the difference. Lets take a closer look at each of these two breeds of boss and see what makes each type tick.How to handle bad bossesMost of us know a flat-out bad boss when we see them, and the truth is that beyond a paycheck and perhaps bolstering our resumes, theres very little upside to working with them. Theyre constantly and consistently working to bring out the very worst in us and drain us of every last drop of energy and enthusiasm. Maybe its out of greed and selfishness for their own needs, with no regard for ours, or maybe theyre just simply terrible at being people and get some satisfaction from seeing us unhappy and squirming.Regardless of their motives, the end result of working with a bad boss is often the sameyou spend way to much time trying to make them happy, which is often an elusive and unattainable goal, and youre left miserable in the process. You often get nothing in return from the interaction and, even worse, it affects your entire life negatively. Like in any toxic relationship, you often come out of the bad boss experience shell-shocked and worse for wear, and it can take a while to shake off the ill effects.If this sounds like your situation, after diagnosing the problem you should see if there are any steps you can take to either improve the situation or minimize the impact. If there arent, consider whether or not its worth sticking it o ut. If not, figure out an exit strategy.How to handle tough bossesThis breed of difficult boss doesntalways make your professional life happy or fun, but theres a significantdifference between a bad boss and a tough boss. Where interacting with a badboss is a toxic exchange that benefits you in no discernable way, having atough boss can actually have the opposite effectthey can challenge you to beyour best self, step out of your comfort zone, and build new and betterprofessional skills. Tough bosses often have lofty demands and highexpectations for both you and their companies, but is that such a bad thing? Infact, in some cutthroat industries where the level of competition is insanelyhigh, having a tough boss at the helm can mean the difference between a companythat navigates its way to success and a company that cant distance itself fromthe crowd.Tough bosses often expect results and require a commitment to seeing things through to the end, regardless of whatever adversity or chal lenge rears its ugly head. But learning to face these things head-on can be great additions to your professional skill setboth at this job and in your future endeavors. Sure, there are limits, and theres often a fine line between a tough boss and bad boss. But if the truth is that your boss often gets on your nerves and drives you crazy, but theyre actually helping you build better skills and are turning you into a better employee, then try to appreciate what youre getting from this exchange and do your best to learn how to work with them in a way that minimizes the awfulness and allows you to continue to benefit from the situation.If you have a difficult boss, use the information here to diagnose whether your boss is tough or just plain bad. Then, take the necessary steps to make your professional life as fulfilling, beneficial, and stress-free as possible.