Learn to respect your boss (Saturated Market)

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Learn to respect your boss

Strategy One of the hardest things to do is take orders from somebody you don't respect. So if you find yourself in this situation, you have four alternatives:

1) Suck it up
2) Quit
3) Try to undermine them by doing as little as possible, or
4) Learn to respect them

1, 2 and 3 are the most common solutions...but how do you accomplish #4?

For everything (turn, turn, turn), there is a reason (turn, turn, turn)

The most important step to respecting your superior is to realize that they got their job for a reason. Nobody just hands out promotions; often the manager has proven themselves over time, or came into the company with an impressive background, or in some cases, built the business with their bare hands. And they probably wouldn't have kept their job for very long if they were completely incompetant.

Take notice, rather than giving it

When you have a negative view of your boss, you tend to focus on the things that bother you, which just reinforces your perception. Try changing your focus; start to look for the good things they do around the workplace, rather than obsessing over the bad. It's a big part of human nature to only notice what supports our current opinions. If you can overcome this, maybe you will start to appreciate them more.

Devil's advocate

When your boss breaks up your fun and tells you to get back to work or hounds you about that project that's coming due, it's easy to be annoyed. However, you have to remember that as a manager, they have a job to do: get the job done. I'm sure every boss would enjoy a little fun now and again, but it reflects poorly on them if their department is spending more time at the water cooler than getting things done. Sure, you may get the job done regardless, but perception often dwarfs reality. If you don't look like you're working, even if you are, that memory tends to outshine the fact that you have a long list of successful projects.

Only human

As outlined in this post over at I Hate Your Job, one thing we often overlook is that our bosses are normal people with normal lives, who just happen to be in charge of what we do from 9-5. Recognizing that they have their own problems and worries and weaknesses is a good way to realize that maybe they deserve a little slack.

Give and take

Now, to be fair, there are often bad bosses out there. It happens. But the fact of the matter is, following some of these steps can still improve your impression of them. And the best part is, if you start to respect them more and resent them less, your attitude will improve; this can lead to greater work satisfaction, less frustration, and maybe even a better relationship with your boss (which has its own benefits). So whatever your goal, sometimes a little understanding can go a long way.

Until next time,