Handling The Difficult Boss - Jpg Download

Dear seniors,

Greetings of the day.

Let me quickly brief you about the situation which I am facing. I started working in an organization as an HR executive two years back. When I joined, there was an admin officer to whom I was reporting. However, within two months of my joining, the entire management team changed, and even my reporting admin officer left. The entire HR responsibility then fell on me. Unfortunately, the previous management had no system and no proper documentation for anything. It was really difficult to understand and deliver the tasks with very little or no information. Somehow, I was able to manage.

Our new head of management began asking for proof for everything, which we did not have at all. He started shouting and scolding us. Whenever we went to him, he only pointed out negatives in our work and tried to find faults. The word of appreciation is not in his dictionary. He speaks very rudely to all of us and behaves as if he is superior, while making us feel inferior. This daily torture is affecting my confidence and morale. Because of this, I am making more mistakes, which I know is not acceptable. I am struggling to figure out how to handle this situation without hurting anybody's ego.

Desperately waiting for advice...

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Pooja

Dear Pooja,

Handling tough bosses is a part of life. We all go through it at some time or another. As Stephen Covey put it, evaluate your options and try to be proactive. The general approach is 'don't take it to heart'. Ignore it as you would treat a barking dog. All of us should examine the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE - to quote Stephen Covey again. Many articles have appeared on the topic of tough bosses in Cite HR. Please browse them and see how you can benefit from them.

V.Raghunathan

You had worked for two years. What was done to streamline work? Now, you will have to be tactful and proactive. Try to move things as far as possible in a proactive manner. But do not get disheartened by a difficult boss. Unfortunately, as there are problematic subordinates, there are problematic bosses. Dealing with such a boss gives you a good deal of knowledge and tact. Ignore barbs and criticism, and try to be as professional as possible. Keep documenting your work and keep him in the loop. Do not worry too much about hurting some people's ego. Avoid it as far as you can, but where necessary to tell the truth or bring out facts, do not worry about egos, but be sure of the accuracy of your work. Many bosses have fragile egos and feel they are the ultimate. But then you have to learn to tackle such people. Take time and avoid mistakes. Do not let him break your confidence and produce results. The boss will change or, in the end, fit if things do not change; look out for alternative jobs.

Dear Seniors,

Thank you very much for your moral support.

I want to quote one more thing here. I am working in Dubai, and the head office is in India. We have to seek approval for everything, whether it's an increment, fitment, promotion, or separation. For the past two years, we have been able to establish proper procedures and standards in recruitment, streamlined payroll procedures, introduced some employee benefit programs, and implemented an appraisal system. We have also prepared policies and requested circulation, but the response from him was very poor. He mentioned that we already have policies prepared by an external consultant that have been sent for approval, but to date, we have not received anything. Even for sending a simple circular, he does not easily accept. Amidst daily activities, I hardly have time to think about anything. After completing everything, he remains unsatisfied...

We are not clear about what he exactly expects from us. Some of the formats and procedures we are currently following were instructed by him, but at times, he claims that everything we are doing is wrong. It's painful.

Regards,

Pooja

Interesting,

You joined the company 2 years ago. Your management changes after 2 months, meaning you had 20 months to get things right. Even after 1 1/2 years, you do not have a system of doing work, your documentation is not in place, you do not have proof of things you have done, and you are making mistakes all the time. On top of everything, you are an expat and therefore a high-cost resource (probably requiring perks like housing, etc). And you expect the manager to be happy and pat you on the back. It's unlikely to happen.

We don't know your position, qualification, or experience prior to this. So we don't know whether you should have known what you are asked to do, but it appears your boss thinks these are things you are supposed to know.

You need to evaluate whether you are fit and capable of doing this job. If your knowledge and experience are inadequate to do the work, then you should be looking for another job which you can do and learn your way up, perhaps a job that has a senior who will guide and train you. The other option is to take time off and go for training that will give you the required skill set.

Dear Pooja,

Other senior members have given their views. Since I also hold similar views, these do not merit reiteration. Now I would like to look at the other side.

Your first post is written in informal language. Should we construe your post as an informal attitude itself? Now, in contrast, if your boss is methodical or fastidious, then your personalities are contrasting with each other.

From both of your posts, if we read between the lines, we find a lack of managerial grace in your boss. However, at this stage, you may recollect on what occasions your boss had scolded you. Make a list of such instances and find out whether any pattern emerges. Make two lists, one for you and one for others. When you document his behavior, you should be able to understand his psychology.

Your problem is that you should have worked under an experienced HR Manager. Hardly had you joined when the Admin Managers, to whom you were reporting, also left. Therefore, the mantle of change fell on your shoulders. But then you were not prepared to shoulder this responsibility.

When a person works in a very organized company, when he/she leaves that job, he/she tries to replicate the good practices of his/her past company. Your problem is your lack of exposure. This is also one of the factors that are putting you on the spot.

Lastly, you are a little vague when you say "there were no systems and procedures" when you joined. But then what change did you bring in? Did you try to showcase it to your boss?

If the work atmosphere is too frustrating, then you may look for a change. However, in your next job, make sure that you have someone to guide you.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

One thing is clear. Boss is difficult. But the employee has also shown gaps in performance. The employee must first focus on what she can control - performance, improved knowledge, and putting things right in her sphere of activity. Probably the boss, seeing the state of things, is venting his unhappiness. If things improve, he may also become more congenial.

Focus on what change you can bring in your work. The boss lacks grace possibly, but even difficult bosses can change for the better when positive results flow.

Pooja, you have been a member since 2007. You should have been an expert by now.

The only dictum, "Boss is always right." If you do not agree to it, your future in career graph is bleak.

Now for tackling the issue, whenever you are putting a note for any case, you should be specific about the past records and mention clearly that such records are not available. This is for your safety. Then ask your boss for a meeting and tell him that you require some guidance on how to update records. Take a specific file and seek his advice. He will bluff as he knows nothing, but do appreciate how helpful he is. Assure him that you will be updating the past records gradually. Tell him directly that you consider him as your mentor and it becomes stressful for you if rebuked incessantly.

Always be polite and never blame anybody. Things will change. All the best.

"Boss is always right."
This is misspelled dictum; dissent is the essence of management.

Hi PVenu,

Dissent is the essence of management, which is a truism. However, in practical life, those who dissent are often sidelined. The reason for dissent is never properly analyzed by the bosses. Some bosses treat dissent as an indicator that the employee wants to leave the job, rather than seeing it as an indication of the employee's engagement with the job. The "my way or the highway" style is practiced by many managers.

Thank you.

Dear Saswata,

Thank you very much for your valuable input.

I would like to tell you that the documents have been in place since I joined. Yes, I am an expat, and comparatively, my cost to the company is not high as I am on my spouse visa, and we do not have any other perks apart from the salary. I have all the proof of what I have done from my first day until today, and my immediate manager is aware of it. I am solely responsible for maintaining employee files, updating details in soft copy, recruitment, onboarding, induction, issuing appointment letters, coordinating with PRO for new visas, visa renewals, and labor card processes, payroll, and issuing required letters to employees (salary certificates, NOCs, service certificates, etc). I am not seeking recognition from my boss, but he is aware of the situation. He never clearly communicates what he expects us to do. However, when we present our work to him, he often complains that things are not correct and sometimes changes his instructions, even forgetting them at times.

I hold an MBA degree with a specialization in HR and have around 4 years of experience in India. I have worked with different bosses before and have never faced such issues.

We have very limited freedom to implement new ideas. In my opinion, I am performing my job exceptionally well, exceeding expectations. If it were just a matter of issues with my boss, I might consider looking for another job. However, many others are also encountering similar problems. I strongly believe that learning is a continuous process, and staying updated with the latest trends is essential.

Warm regards,

Pooja

Dear Dinesh sir,

I apologize if there is anything wrong in my post because I posted it when I was totally frustrated. I agree with your point as there may be a difference in personalities.

I will sit and analyze where things are going wrong and what his psychology is. Specifically regarding the systems and procedures, there was no format for any offer/appointment letter, experience letter, no proper employee database, no proper salary bill, and all employee files were incomplete. There were no basic policies for leave and attendance.

I will do my best to meet his expectations. If things remain the same, then I have no choice. Yes, I should be cautious before taking up my next job.

Regards,
Pooja

Dear Seniors,

I thank you all for your support and feedback. I will definitely review my performance once again and make sure to keep a record of all my achievements, no matter how small. This way, I will have proof to show my boss.

Regards,
Pooja

Rules of Management:

1. The boss is always right.
2. If the boss is wrong, refer to Rule 1.

Dear Pooja,

Please review your post once more.

You hold an MBA in HR and have 4 years of experience (now 6) in a Company that already had established systems in place. Contrary to what was implied in your initial two posts, you are not new or untrained due to your prior work experience.

It is unclear why you did not disclose these facts initially. Doing so would have prevented other members from making irrelevant comments that now seem out of place.

Despite your background and experience, you seem to be struggling to meet expectations. You are making mistakes and not fulfilling your responsibilities.

I have clients in Dubai, where tasks similar to yours are typically handled by one person (depending on the Company's size). Therefore, your duties are not extraordinary. However, if you fail to perform adequately, it affects the overall work. You have not mentioned the specific mistakes your boss criticizes or provided examples of his alleged unfair feedback.

The concluding part of your post caught my attention. If you were alone, you would have sought a different job. However, since many others share your dislike for the boss, you hesitate to leave. What is your true intention? Are you seeking advice on how to have the boss replaced?

I hope this feedback is helpful to you.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Pooja did not reply to my queries. If one does not consider anything seriously and is in the habit of only raising a problem, obviously bosses do not like problems but love solutions. She should not have apathy towards citing discussions.

Dear Pooja,

As a friendly suggestion, please refrain from using SMS/WhatsApp language in such important posts. My comment may sound trivial to you now but will definitely help you in the long run and to establish yourself as a professional.

All the best!

Kind Regards,
Yashodhan Dere

Hello, Ms. Pooja,

Handling difficult situations is an art to learn, and we should always try to achieve this skill right from our mistakes. No one can be expected to have complete command of all the policies. HR is a very tricky and sensitive field where you need to balance between management, other managers, and staff.

We used to face unwanted pressures from different corners, but with some thought-provoking tactics, we can handle the situations. I hope you now have an idea of how to navigate such difficult situations.

Regards,
'Optimus Consultants'
09672616784

Dear Saswata,

I have no intention to replace anyone.

I said I am new to that organization, and I was new to Dubai labor laws. Yes, I was not untrained in HR, but I was untrained in UAE labor laws and the strength of our organization is around 275.

I will quote some examples,

1) We are in the education industry. We recruit teachers. The interviews will be conducted by the academic team, and based on their feedback, we seek final approval from my boss. Once, I had scheduled an interview for a teacher, and as per the principal's instruction, I was taking the candidate to the principal's cabin. In the middle of the way, my boss met me and asked who she was and what was happening. I explained to him. In front of the candidate, he started telling me why I did not inform him about the schedule, asked me to send the candidate back, and call tomorrow. He started saying HR is not working properly. It was embarrassing and painful in front of the candidate.

2) Once, I had called another candidate for an assistant teacher position. For the assistant teacher position, we even recruit graduates. At that time, there was a vacancy for a secretary as well, and the candidate had similar experience. I checked with the candidate if she was interested in the vacant position, and she was fine. So, I took her CV to my sir and explained it to him. When I took her to him, he started asking her when she applied for the job and how many times. She mentioned she had uploaded her resume on the website several times. He wanted to know the exact dates. We get CVs from our website and only contact those candidates if there is a vacancy. Then he called me to his chamber and started asking why I didn't call her earlier since she had sent her CV multiple times. It was the same statement that HR is not working correctly, in front of the candidate.

3) He specified a format for the salary bill at the beginning. After a few months, he started saying we should not include certain columns. Whatever I did seemed to be wrong. When I mentioned it was as per his guidelines, he said he didn't say that. I still have the corrected papers with me.

4) Even if we take a small letter or file for his signature, he starts saying it's not correct. For example, we follow an employee information sheet format in each employee's personal file, which is approved by him. But every time I take a new employee file for his signature, he suggests different changes.

To be honest, I am very comfortable and enjoy my work, irrespective of the pressure. I have never claimed that I am doing anything extraordinary. But every time someone says I am wrong, it affects my confidence and morale. I don't think changing the job is the solution. I want to correct myself if I am really wrong. As per me, I am doing justice to my profile. I am not claiming I am perfect, but I am definitely willing to learn and adopt good practices.

Thanks and regards,

Pooja

Madam,

Willingness to learn, adopt, and adapt is the best way to progress. Learn from errors and honestly introspect. It is always easy to justify and say the boss is difficult. It may not always be true; the problem may be that one does not understand what the boss wants in work, in the same meaning/form of what he expects. Eventually, a good and willing employee will be successful in the long run. All the best.

Dear Nathrao Sir,

I too believe in honesty and I believe learning is a continuous process until the end. I will try my best to meet his expectations. Hope things will be fine.

Thank you.

Regards,
Pooja

It would have been better if you had explained the details at the start. You have given examples that seem to be following a pattern, where the person in charge has varying requirements that change from time to time. In addition, he seems to have already decided that you don't do your work properly, which may stem from his experience with you earlier. The place does not seem to have a set procedure. However, others in the organization may see things differently.

One option is to ask him for advice on how to improve. You may get an idea of what he expects. A second option is to keep him informed of all actions you are taking so he is aware of them. Then he can instruct you to the contrary if he feels it is necessary. Third, when you take any letter to him, tell him it's based on the format he approved last time. Or even better, take his advice before you make the letter on whether you should use the format used for the xyz case.

Apologies if my post did not give a clear picture. And as you said, he has a preoccupied mindset against a few people. We do not have any complete systems; loopholes are there. Next time onwards, I will follow your tips. Let's see how things work. Thank you for your valuable time and inputs.

Regards,
Pooja

Hello Pooja,

Like Saswata Banerjee mentioned, a clear pattern does seem to be emerging from the multiple posts from you. Since your current boss seems to have joined this company as a part of the takeover deal, it's also quite possible that he himself is trying to make his mark in this new setup. And when things don't work fast or well enough, he tries to find fault with others.

It also emerges that he 'seems' to have a semblance of 'NOT' taking responsibility for his actions, leading to a toxic environment at work. I can only see things moving in the direction of you moving out of this company. Just put in your best as long as you work here with your eyes wide open.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Pooja,

I was HRD boss. In each of the cases you have quoted, I find fault with you. So introspect and change your style of functioning. It appears that you just do not like what your boss says. He is the boss after all. For every action of yours, he should be informed, which you are not doing. Why? What prevents you from informing the boss what you are doing? Hence, I suggest your attitudinal change.