This is how you deal with your horrible boss at work

This is how you deal with your horrible boss at work While we sincerely hope youre blessed with pleasant supportive bosses for the rest of your days, theres a high chance that at some point in your life youre going to have to deal with a horrible boss. Its not a particularly nice thing to go through, it can leave you feeling drained and demotivated, and at worst, can lead you to quitting your job and seeking work elsewhere. But there are some things you can do to relieve some of the pressure. Here are our suggestions for dealing with your horrible boss in the most mature and sensible way possible, without creating any toxic tension thats going to make your work environment even worse. Avoid any shouting matches (not cool) and instead try to understand your boss point of view more. Heres how Are they actually that bad? The first thing you need to do is take a step back and consider whether they are actually as horrible as you think they are. Sometimes in a high pressure work environment it can be easy to take things personally did they perhaps assign you a task you didnt particularly want to complete, or maybe they werent keen on one of your ideas? Its easy to let things like this influence your opinion of someone. In fact, even the fact that theyre youre superior, with ultimate decision making authority, can be enough to rub you up the wrong way. Try to assess the situation objectively. Are they really being unfair or overly negative? Or are you taking things a bit too personally? Try explaining the situation to a trusted friend or family member to see what they think theyre likely to tell you straight if youre acting out of line. Remember theyre human too They might seem like some Miranda Preistly-esque demi-god but remember that theyre actually just another human being, so try and work out what makes them tick. What annoys them? What are their goals? What pressures do they face? Remember, theyll likely have their own boss above them setting their goals and directives, so try and put yourself in your boss shoes. Once you work out what motivates them to act the way you do, its not about making excuses for their behaviour, but understanding their point of view. This means that if you do decide to speak to them about certain issues, you can address the underlying motivations behind their behaviour and youre more likely to make them understand your point of view. Dont be afraid to set boundaries If your boss rings you up at 11pm at night demanding something from you, they need to know thats not ok. As long as youre completing the work youre supposed to, and working your set hours, dont let your boss place extra stress and responsibility on your shoulders that youre not being paid for. This can have a really detrimental effect on your mental health, your personal relationships and your job satisfaction. Make sure you tackle the issue sooner rather than later, as the longer you let them get away with it, the more theyll expect from you. If they cross the line of acceptable work etiquette, speak to them in person and let them know how you feel. They should hopefully respect your decision, but if they dont, youre within your rights to take the issue to a senior member of staff or the HR department. Remember theyre not perfect Sometimes its easy to fall into the trap of thinking your boss knows everything and every decision they make is undoubtedly the right one. This can make you wary of suggesting changes to the status quo, and taking your boss word as gospel. This is in fact really bad for business remember youve been hired for a reason, and your opinion is just as valid as everyone elses. Youre there to drive development and growth within the business, not keep things exactly the same. Obviously respect your boss authority and dont start acting like you own the place, but assert yourself and put your stamp on the work youre doing. If your boss completely refuses to accept anyones opinion other than their own, speak to your colleagues to see if theyre experiencing the same thing and arrange a chat with your boss to express your concerns. Anticipate their requests The only way to outwit your boss is to do what they want you to do before they even know they want you to do it. Obviously you shouldnt dedicate your whole life to just catering to your boss needs but see if theres some sort of pattern to the kind of things theyre asking you to do, try and anticipate these requests ahead of time so the next time they ask you can say its already done. Just make sure you dont look too smug. Of course, the end goal is that if you complete their requests beforehand, theyll eventually stop asking and let you get on with your job in peace. Become their friend Youve heard the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. While this is very true, were not suggesting this so you can take some wild revenge on your boss at an opportune moment. If you get to know each other in an non-workplace setting, itll help you to work together more effectively when youre at work, and hopefully diffuse any tension that has arisen. Offer to go for coffee or lunch with them, and try to keep the topic of conversation away from work as much as possible. Find out about them as a person; what they like to do in their spare time, what their family is like, and what their hopes for the future are. Itll help you both to see each other as humans and not just colleagues, and enable you to cooperate better. Taking these actions should help avoid the worst case scenario, and enable you to continue thriving and succeeding in your role. Your company should have a support network in place for you to turn to in situations like this, so if youre struggling remember to always speak out. Know your own worth and know when youre being treated unfairly. Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.