News flash: you control your destiny. Not your employer. Not your boss. You. So, is it time to fire your boss?
“What?! I cannot fire my boss”, you may say. It’s all in your perspective. You may call it finding another job or you may call it firing your boss. The difference is how you approach the situation.
Here are some questions to ask yourself before firing your boss….
1. How Bad is It?
Life is too short to work for bad bosses. So the first question you should ask yourself is: How bad is it?
Different degrees of Bad Boss Behavior™ help us measure our response. Let’s look at the bad boss behaviors as a scale:
- 1 - 3 (Nuisance Level): At least once a week you leave work unhappy with your boss. You still see positive attributes in them, but your displeasure is growing. These are the Michael Scott's of the world - and there are plenty of them.
- 4 - 6 (Solidly Bad): Most days you leave work glad to be done with your boss. Seeing a phone call, email, or message from them makes your heart sink or blood boil. Need an example? Look up Bill Lumbergh.
- 7 - 9 (Heinous Category): Forget daily, it is an hourly battle to keep your sanity. You often find yourself grinding teeth, clenching fists, and going for walks to clear your head. Ebenezer Scrooge demonstrates heinous boss behavior.
- 10 (Pure Evil): Your sanity is drained a little each day*. You spend more time plotting ways to mitigate the frustration and pain you have dealing with your boss than simply doing your best work. Think Darth Vader.
2. Have You Given Them a Chance?
It can be difficult to think of your bad boss as a human with their own issues. Everyone has challenges we know nothing about. Therefore, before you fire them, consider this: have you given them a chance to fix their Bad Boss Behaviors™?
Here are some ways to help them improve their skills…
- Network Up: Build strong relationships with their peers and others they value. Help their peers see the problem so they may influence improvements in your boss.
- Direct Feedback: Try asking, "Is there something I can do to stop/minimize [*Insert Bad Boss Behavior*]?"; "You seem to be under extra pressure lately. Is there something I can do to help?"; "Lately your communications with me seem [*Behavior*]. I respond better to...."
- Indirect Feedback: Consider working through Human Resources, providing 360 feedback, or even leaving anonymous feedback.
- Buy a Gift: Get them a great book or training program on people leadership (shameless self-promotion 😁). Maybe even anonymously.
- Reposition Them: Help them find a role they are better suited to, maybe above someone you dislike. 😂 How? I know some folks who've shared their boss's information with recruiters. Not me of course, but somebody....
3. Do You Have Another Candidate?
Do you have another candidate in mind? Who would make a better boss? Chances are the grass is greener on the other side. Still, it helps to find the new yard before packing up your belongings for the move. Furthermore, if you’re in a leadership or people management role yourself, remember, you cannot lead what you need. Take this opportunity to ensure you’re ready to be the best leader you can be.
Is it Time to Fire Your Boss?
You are responsible for your career. Yes, many employers should take a greater interest in the career development of their employees. However, at the end of the day, they are stakeholders. You are the owner of your career. Only you can determine when the time is right to fire your boss. That said, based on the questions above, consider….
- How Bad? If only Nuisance Level, consider investing more time helping them be a better boss. However, if you’re dealing with a Bill Lumbergh, Ebenezer Scrooge, or Darth Vader, there’s strong motivation for termination.
- Given a Chance? If you have not tried at least a couple of the suggested methods to fix your boss, it may be worth doing so and allowing a little time for the practices to embed.
- Another Candidate? Your financial independence and confidence in your ability to find a new position will guide this aspect. If you have a solid potential for your next employer, it’s motivation for termination. If not, it’s a good time to start looking.
Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum, try this alternative perspective. When we think of our jobs as something we consider changing, we perceive ourselves as having less control. When we contemplate firing our boss, we take greater ownership of our careers and the decisions that effect our success, happiness, and even mental health*.
You control your destiny. Not your employer. Not your boss. You. So, is it time to fire your boss?
If you could use help with your career decisions or fixing and preventing Bad Boss Behaviors™ for your organization, contact us – we’d love to help!
* Mental health is a serious issue. Too few employers appreciate the significant impact their bosses have on the wellbeing of their employees. If you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, please seek professional help.
