GUIDELINE 6

NEVER ACCEPT ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR FROM A MANAGER

A manager who is intimidating, mean, or otherwise abusive has psychological problems. When faced with such a manager, you must remember, first and foremost, that those problems are the manager’s, not yours.

How do you deal with an abusive manager?

1.   Document every instance of abuse and every solution you have attempted to end the abuse. Keep a notepad for your documentation, and be highly specific. Include dates, times, names, and concrete examples.

2.   Seek support among your colleagues (and family and friends) while trying to avoid your abusive boss.

3.   Once you have compiled a decent record of the abuse, report the behavior to senior management.

Although an experience like this is unpleasant, try to remember that, in the long run, you are helping this individual as well as yourself. The hope is that the manager will come to terms with the problems behind the abuse, resolve them, and develop into someone who can succeed and help others, like you, succeed too.