by Emily McDowell

Created on: January 17, 2010

Most people have to deal with a difficult boss at one of their jobs. A boss who wants everything done at the same time, does not know how to delegate work, never takes anything seriously or has no sense of humor. My former boss suffered from a condition where he was in a constant state of revision. He always changed his mind, right up to the last minute. Although that was not his only character flaw, it was the one that my coworkers and I spent the most time analyzing and complaining about.

How do you deal with a superior who has the goal of making your life miserable? Here are a few tips on handling a boss who expects you to read his mind.

Tip #1: Take harsh comments and negative remarks about your work as constructive criticism. Instead of getting offended at comments, no matter how rude they are, take them in stride and let them guide you to produce better work. In cases where you feel that your boss's words are too callous, let them slide right off your shoulders. The hardest part of doing this is the fact that your boss may give you directions about a project before beginning to work on it, but upon completion wants something completely different. If he denies ever changing his mind, this will leave you in a whirlwind of fury, but try not to let this hinder your future performance.

Tip #2: It is imperative to keep thorough and accurate notes. Always hold onto comments and revisions from your boss written on previous drafts of your work. This provides you with proof of what he originally wanted. That can also help you in cases where there is an error, and the original source of the mistake was none other than your not-so-perfect boss. Someone in an upper level position hates to admit any wrongdoing on their part, but if you provide evidence that they caused the mistake, they are more likely to take the blame with grace.

Tip #3: Provide a couple different drafts of your work. Give your boss some options, and he should at least take a look at them before rejecting your ideas. Even if none of the ideas are along the lines of what he was thinking, at least he will see that you put forth your best effort and be more considerate. Although I did encounter a boss one time who hated when I presented her with different options because she felt I was wasting my time; instead of focusing on one great idea, I was spreading my thoughts too thin by exploring many ideas. That is a risk you may run by following this tip.

Tip #4: Although this may refute tip number one (not taking harsh comments to heart), you also should not be afraid to fight back. Just do it in a nice way. Let your boss know that his constant changes are confusing you, and there needs to be better communication. Perhaps you can present him with work when it is partially completed just to make sure that you are on the right track. Be honest and open with him, and he should respect you for it. He may even be looking for an employee who has enough guts to stand up to him and point out his flaws, as long as it is done in a tactful way. I found this to be the case with my last boss – many people before and after me quit their jobs because they did not have the patience to communicate with him in a direct, yet respectful manner.

As maddening as it can be to deal with a boss who is a control freak and gives himself the power to change his mind at any moments notice, remember that the longer you put up with it the better off you will be in the long run. Chances are once this job has run its course, your next boss will not be as difficult to work for, plus you will have created some invaluable work experience and stamina.

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