Eight tips for handling a toxic boss

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Joanne Swann
Two women sit side-by-side at a table, each with a laptop, glancing sideways with expressions of skepticism. The shadow of a toxic boss looms over their conversation, adding tension to the air.

A third of full-time employees are willing to take a pay cut to avoid working in a toxic environment, recent findings reveal. A toxic boss is often a key contributor to a toxic work environment, with 21% of employees attributing increased stress levels to their bosses. 

Eager to help employees spot and successfully resolve toxic workplaces, the experts at  JobLeads created a comprehensive dos and don’ts list for dealing with a toxic boss.

Four DOs of dealing with a toxic boss

  1. Do: Take a deep breath and calmly asses the situation

Take the time to go away and calm down so that you can assess the situation with a clear head. Deep breathing is a proven technique that can help lower your stress levels and benefit effective thinking. Or you could follow the British Heart Foundation’s three breathing exercises helping reduce stress. This way you’d be able to respond with evidence rather than emotion.

  1. Do: Evaluate ‘unfair’ feedback and be honest about its merit

If your manager has given you feedback in a way that feels unfair and rudely delivered, take the time to objectively evaluate it and be honest with yourself: does their feedback have any merit? If yes, then take it on board and address the matter in a way that works for the both of you.

  1. Do: Set up a meeting with your manager’s boss to discuss the problem

If you weren’t able to resolve the problem directly with your manager, the next step is to arrange a 1:1 with your manager’s boss. Although it might feel uncomfortable to take such a step, this is an important move in being seen to want to resolve the situation (and have the written evidence to prove so).

  1. Do: Inform Human Resources of the issue

Once a matter reaches HR, the issue will likely become a formal investigation. Rather than fearing it, show that you’re open and transparent by handing over any requested information as soon as possible. Respond positively to requests for meetings or clarifications.

Four DON’Ts of dealing with a toxic boss

  1. Don’t: Ignore your manager’s toxic behaviour

If a manager says or does something that you instinctively, as a seasoned professional, don’t believe is right, don’t sit back in silence. Particularly if it is damaging to team relationships or violates company policies and procedures.

  1. Don’t: Forget that bullying, intimidating or unreasonable micromanagement are rarely isolated

Unless they’re having a bad day, toxic behaviour by a manager is unlikely to be a one-off incident. Although their criticism or actions may seem out of the blue and take you by surprise, it could actually be part of a wider pattern. Pay careful attention to how they interact with you and other team members.

  1. Don’t: Gossip about the issue with colleagues

Whatever you do, don’t gossip about the matter with your colleagues. Unless they are witnesses of specific instances, there is no professional reason to inform them.

  1. Don’t: Leave before you have attempted all the dos

Carefully evaluate the situation and avoid making hasty decisions in the heat of the moment. Sometimes, it might end up being easier trying to resolve the current issue, than having to start over again and dealing with different challenges in another role.

Joanne Swann, Content Manager, WorkWellPro
Editor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional | Website |  + posts

Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.

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