3 Frustrating Boss Behaviors (and How to Deal)

3 Frustrating Boss Behaviors (and How to Deal)3 Frustrating Boss Behaviors (and How to Deal)Its the workplace equivalent of leaving the cap off the toothpaste, resting the toilet seat in undesirable repose, or placing an empty milk jug back in the fridge. Yep, he or she is driving you crazy, and you dont know if you can take it anymore. But its notlage a spouse, partner, or roommate were talking about- its your manager. And its not the cap on the toothpaste. Its any number of minor to major workplace annoyances that create eye roll-worthy opportunities in your day. Often, theyll get you thinking that its time to look for a new job. But before you do, I urge you to reconsider and learn to deal with the frustrations head on. The reality is that all managers have flaws. They will all commit some manner of annoyance against you. But the good news is, when you know what your managers flaws are, you can deal with them. Here are three very common ways your manager might be pushing your butt ons, and how to push back. 1. Changing His Mind- ConstantlyIts inevitable that things will change in the course of certain projects, sales activity, or client programs. Thats a fact of business life.However, if your babo cant seem to make a decision that sticks and is constantly changing course, that can be downright infuriating. Believe me, Ive had my share of these managers, and I know how frustrating it is to see good work thats simply wasted by inefficient decision-making.Though you may not think you can have an impact here, I believe you can. Recently, I spoke with a client who seemed to be taking orders from his manager, then getting frustrated when the manager vacillated. I noticed he wasnt asking any questions, getting clarity, or pushing back when the orders were being rolled out. My advice to him- and to you? When youre getting a new assignment from a boss who is prone to flip-flopping, try getting more clarity before you launch into action. For instance, ask about the big picture, the long-term goal, and how your actions will support that. Say theres an idea proposed to ramp up your social media presence to create more customer engagement. Before running off to post, tweet, and set up a profile on every new social platform out there, stop and ask some questions. When you say ramp up, tell me exactly what you mean by that. How will this support our current business development strategy? What results are we looking for with this initiative?How will we measure the results of this initiative when all is said and done?By helping your manager drill down to the drivers of a decision, you may also help him become clearer about why hes doing it. In the process, he may realize hes proposed a solution that doesnt fix a herausforderung (or fix it most effectively), or have some other insight. If you can, influence the decisions about what comes next, and youll lessen the chance of a flip-flop strategy. 2. Equating Face Time With ResultsUnless your physical job is to be in one place to, say, manage a production machine or escort guests through a facility, its likely youll have some degree of latitude in when and where you work. That said, many managers, even if they support this flexibility, equate face time with productivity. After all, its easy to quantify the hours you work- and it can be more difficult to measure performance, results, or contribution. I once who had a manger who told me, If youre not in the office, youre not working. Seriously. And my work did not require that I had to be in one place. If youre in a situation where you need some flexibility or out-of-office time to get your job done, but your manager seems obsessed with face time rather than results, its important to have a conversation about it. First, youll want to assure him or her that you understand your objectives and you intend to deliver on those results. Then, propose a structure for how you work best, and how you would like to work moving forward- whether tha ts leaving at 4 every day then working a few more hours at home, or one day a week of work-from-home time. If you have a boss whos skeptical, its up to you to amp up the communication frequency and assure her that she can trust your judgment and commitment in getting work done, no matter your level of cubicle time. Be especially attentive to your boss needs during this time. Flag her emails and texts and answer them. Or, let her know you have the message and youll respond by a certain time if its not urgent. Then, review your working schedule during your regular conversations, validating that youre spot-on in achieving your results. In essence, demonstrate that you can manage getting your work done (and done well), even if youre not putting in the official face time.3. Keeping Your Job Objectives a SecretPick up any survey on employee feedback, and youll see the distinct link between high employee engagement and clear job expectations. The more you know about what you should be doin g, why youre doing it, and how youll be measured, the more likely you are to be satisfied in your job. Sounds simple, right? But you cant believe how often I hear, Well, I dont really have a job description. You may find that managers are often much better on the performance correction process than they are in the setting expectations for the job process. So, if you dont have a good job description, goals, and a system for how youll be measured, you need to change that. (And this is a career-management skill, not just a corrective step to take with one manager.) So, if you havent already, ask your manager for the goals and objectives specific to your job, along with the timelines for those deliverables. If you have, but mucksmuschenstill dont have the document, write up your understanding and have your boss review it. Then, make it a point to have regular conversations with your manager that include status updates, feedback gathering, and progress toward your objectives (i.e., are t hese still the right goals, and are you on the right track?). It can feel awkward or tedious to put these on the calendar, but remember that it means youll always know where you stand (and that you wont have any surprises come performance review season). Finally, remember that a big part of your job is making your boss successful. To that end, you should have a clear understanding of your boss goals, so that you can see how your job responsibilities align to the bigger picture of the department. Its another way of knowing if youre on track.When you know what youre responsible for, and how you will be measured, youre going to be more satisfied and less frustrated in your job. And without a doubt, youre going to be more successful as well. Sure, managers can be difficult. All are imperfect. But instead of being frustrated or tempted to cut and run, try managing through some of these tribulations. Itll help your build your career skills and get more satisfaction in the job you do have. Photo of people working courtesy of Shutterstock.