Manila, Philippines — You wake up in the morning wearing a smile on your face, looking forward to a productive day at work.  You are greeted by your colleagues with a pleasant “good morning” on your way to the office. Arriving there, you sit down, flex your arms, and sip a hot cup of coffee before buckling down to work.

Just when you thought everything was going well and you’ve started your day on a bright note, suddenly you see a familiar figure walking up to you – with a raised eyebrow, a wrinkled forehead, and his usual husky tone telling you what to do, how he wants it done, and when he wants everything finished. He slams his hand on your desk before turning his back to you, just as your co-workers start whispering “sweet nothings” about him and his “daily routine”.

It’s your boss – the office’s old nemesis who has gained “notoriety” for his mean and unkind approach to everybody in the workplace.

It’s a long-standing reality that haunts everybody in the office; the mere sight of an “evil” boss that creates an atmosphere of insecurity, irritability, and intimidation. Working for a superior like one definitely becomes a daily burden – an unbearable suffering to endure, to be more precise.

There will always be a bad superior wherever you go, and it’s something that you might just have to get used to if quitting your job is a farfetched thought. You may find yourself sharing the same sentiments with your colleagues, which will not come as a big surprise after all.

What is a bad boss?
Douglas McGregor, an American social psychologist, established a management principle that best expounds the nature and character of a bad boss. McGregor’s “XY Theory” is a logical explanation of how managers function and the reason behind every action they do based on several factors.

According to McGregor, there are two basic types of managers: the Theory X managers and the Theory Y managers. Theory X managers are considered autocratic and authoritarian managers who impose their will unto their subordinates through coercion and intimidation, while theory Y managers are those that practice a participative style of managing their team through communication and welcoming criticisms and ideas for the improvement of his group’s collective output.

Theory X managers are simply bad superiors. They assume that people under their authority simply work for the sake of satisfying their basic needs; hence they believe that they (workers) have to be “pushed” from time to time. They also believe that people normally dislike work and will avoid assuming responsibilities whenever they can.

With this, they develop the tendency to direct people towards achieving the organization’s goals by imposing a threat of punishment unto them.
    
How to deal with a bad boss?

• Learn to read your boss’ behavior. Think ahead; anticipate what he wants and how he wants things done and be prepared to respond accordingly.  Know the facts of the task at hand and be sure to achieve the best results that it requires from you.
• Present results instead of problems. As mentioned earlier, bad superiors are mainly focused on achieving goals, so focus your dealings with them on what you can do and when you can achieve things. Stick to the goals and deadlines.
• Do not tell them what the stat sheets say. A bad boss needs to know what the real score is, so cut out on the facts and figures of the task at hand.
• Avoid confrontations. Learn to remain firm on your stand without appearing to be too aggressive or threatening.  You’ll be doing more damage to yourself and your job once you go overboard. Just keep to yourself whatever comment you have reserved, but learn to get your points across clearly.
• Do not appeal to your boss’ “humane” side. Try your best to maintain your relationship as professional as possible, even if he/she does not appear to repay the respect and courtesy you give them. Achieve your target by being self-disciplined and well-organized.  Remember that the more your boss sees that you can function and be productive on your own, the less likely they’ll feel the need to keep an eye on you.
• Do not question the process. If your boss hands you a task, stick to what he expects from you.  Just confirm the end-results that the job require and check if it is alright to “simplify” process. As McGregor’s propositions tell, this will give you the control over the “how”, provided you deliver the “what’s” and the “when’s”.