Harvard Business Review

How Do I Navigate a Bad Boss? | S1E2 | New Here

Harvard Business Review

Summary

Navigating the complexities of workplace dynamics, particularly when dealing with a bad boss, is a common challenge many employees face. Leadership coach Robin L. Garrett shares insights on recognizing the signs of a toxic boss and offers strategies for coping and healing. She emphasizes the importance of understanding personal values to identify when a boss's behavior is detrimental, suggesting that defining these values can clarify whether the mismatch is personal or indicative of a toxic environment.

Listeners recount their experiences with various types of bad bosses, from bullies who undermine their confidence to unreliable leaders who fail to fulfill their responsibilities. Garrett advises that confronting a difficult boss directly may not always be effective; instead, understanding their motivations and adapting communication styles can lead to better outcomes. She highlights the need for employees to document their experiences, especially in cases of inappropriate behavior, as this can provide clarity and serve as a record if further action is needed.

The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of working under a bad boss, with stories illustrating the long-term impact on mental health. Both Garrett and host Eleni Mata share personal anecdotes of overcoming challenging work situations, reinforcing the message that seeking help and taking time for self-care is crucial. Ultimately, the discussion aims to empower listeners to advocate for themselves and navigate their careers with resilience.

Show Notes

How Do I Handle a Bad Boss? | S1E2 | New Here

1 Nov 2023

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So, you have your first bad boss. How do you protect yourself?

This week on New Here, we learn how to deal with a difficult manager and heal afterward. Leadership coach and TikTok creator Robyn L. Garrett helps host Elainy Mata understand how many managers think — and shares how she handled a bad boss early in her career

Plus, Elainy’s own former boss Anita Sen gives us three tips that we can use to protect ourselves from a difficult manager.

Have a career question? Let us know at [email protected].

Key topics include: communication, managing up, mental health, careers.

More Reading: • When Should You Take a Problem to HR? (Octavia Goredama): https://hbr.org/2023/08/when-should-you-take-a-problem-to-hr • Dealing With Your Incompetent Boss (Amy Gallo): https://hbr.org/2011/06/dealing-with-your-incompetent • Do You Hate Your Boss? (Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries): https://hbr.org/2016/12/do-you-hate-your-boss

You can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2023/09/how-do-i-handle-a-bad-boss - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-handle-a-bad-boss/id1705031803?i=1000627733239 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dBlvFIfLwspV3JWXYAnVD?si=a82767a45aa44398

Series Description: The young professional’s guide to work — and how to make it work for you.

About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org.

Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 3:29 – Interview with Robyn Garrett 17:06 – Advice from a Good Boss! 24:36 - Outro

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#HarvardBusinessReview #business #careers #workadvice

Copyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

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