Working for an abusive boss can be an emotional and mental drain on a person’s life. There are adverse changes in all parts of your life, and it is hard to move forward in your job when, every chance you get, you are “reprimanded” for not doing a specific task better. A bad situation at work can be turned around, though, if you know how to identify the problem and find ways to fix it. Here are 18 signs and some tips to deal with them.
Incessant Criticism
Many bosses tend to criticize your work and try to undermine your confidence in minor areas at work. When someone consistently reviews your work negatively with hardly anything positive to say, it is easy to begin feeling like all of your work is undervalued and useless. This can lead to decreased performance and morale over time.
Micromanagement
Micromanagement means that you are always watched by your boss. Thus, everything you do is subject to critique. With a micromanaging boss, you are unable to make decisions, and your boss also does not trust your decision-making abilities, resulting in disempowerment and a sense of job dissatisfaction.
Expectations That Are Not Realistic
Unrealistic expectations can cause you unnecessary stress. If you make or however unrealistic goals for yourself without taking into account your workload or the resources you have to use, you are setting yourself up for failure. When you have unattainable goals, you will be overwhelmed constantly and never feel like you have enough time or are doing well enough because there will always be something that could be done better.
No Recognition
If you receive recognition for the work and contributions that you have made, then you may feel appreciated in your role. The absence of recognition can significantly erode your motivation and sense of worthiness. Over time, this will leave you feeling disengaged and less productive.
Public Humiliation
Publicly disparaging or threatening employees in the presence of their colleagues is one possible example of what a conscious person might call “intimidation.” This is just another form of intimidation. It undermines dignity and self-worth.
Unpredictable Behavior
Having a boss who behaves in an unpredictable, erratic way can create an ongoing feeling of instability and insecurity. Always being on guard and never knowing how your boss will react next is a sure way to increase your stress and anxiety and decrease your overall well-being and job satisfaction.
Withholding Information
Have you ever been left in the dark and need to be informed of a change in policy or procedure? Being kept in the dark about certain things that pertain to you or your job within the organization can leave you feeling unimportant or not valued.
Favoritism
Favoritism in the workplace can lead to division among team members. It can also lower an employee’s morale or motivation, which in turn lowers the team’s productivity.
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic in which someone denies your realities or facts. When done by a boss, the experience can be even worse because you have to follow what they say, and with a boss gaslighting you, they could make you lose trust in yourself, which you need at work.
Fear Of Reprisal
Suppose someone tells you that you may face retaliation for speaking up or exercising your rights. In that case, it can create a culture of fear and intimidation within the borough. When you feel afraid to speak up for yourself or express your concerns, you begin to lose your power and have a feeling of having no other choice but to accept this treatment in the workplace.
Ignoring Boundaries
Ignoring your boundaries and invading privacy can make anyone feel uncomfortable and violated. Feeling like you cannot establish healthy boundaries can cause your safety and independence in the workplace to be worn down and cause stress or even anxiety.
Refusal to Address Concerns
If your manager blows off or does not address the issues you bring up about their behavior, you may feel as if your opinion does not matter and that your feelings are entirely unimportant. If you voice your concerns and get the cold shoulder or the conversation is met with defensiveness, you may feel invalidated and powerless.
Blaming Others
If you have a boss who is quick to see the good things but unable to take the blame, then guess who they will point the finger at when things go wrong? Creating this culture can cause departments to scapegoat each other and point fingers.
Isolation
Isolation is a common tactic used by abusive bosses to gain more control and make it harder for targets to speak out. Managers who abuse confidential information as a method of leaver for their benefit and cut victimization from the framework of support, which intensifies victims into loneliness.
Undermining Confidence
Constantly feeling criticized and undervalued by your boss can lead to feelings of never being enough, which is known as the going syndrome, and it can impact your performance at work and your job progression.
Exploiting Employees
If organizations exploit their employees, taking advantage of their willingness to work, their loyalty may decrease. Some examples of exploitation include overworking employees, not giving them breaks, and not paying them fairly.
Physical Or Verbal Aggression
Your boss is over the line if you are subjected to physical or verbal aggression. You don’t have to face yelling, cursing, or physical intimidation. Might such behavior damage your self-esteem or self-confidence over time?
High Turnover Of Employees
A high employee turnover rate is a good sign of a toxic work environment caused by an abusive boss. Losing many talented employees because of how an employee is being treated and how they are not satisfied with their current position is not suitable for the organization. How to deal with an abusive boss:
Document Events
Keep a record of incidents of abusive behavior, including dates, times, and what was said or done during each incident. This documentation could be helpful if you need to escalate the problem to HR or senior management.
Communicate openly
If you can, talk to your boss about your feelings and how they affect you. Instead of pointing fingers, use “I” messages to express your feelings and concerns.
Explore your internal touchpoints
If you work for a larger company or have a Human Resources department available on-site, having a confidential conversation about the situation with a knowledgeable person, such as someone in HR or an employee assistance program (EAP), may make sense.
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