Managing a difficult boss

Why is your boss making life difficult for you?

Is your boss an aggressive, nervous type?

Is he/she under unusual pressure at the moment?

Have you displeased your boss in some way recently?

How are you handling negative feedback? Try this quiz.

Are you missing your targets?

Is all not well with your boss's personal life?

Is there a personality conflict between you and your boss?

It may be that your different personalities lead you to see things very differently.

Have your boss's aspirations been thwarted of late?

Does your boss perceive you as a threat in some way?

Is there a style conflict between you and your boss?

Do you disagree on key priorities or strategies?

Are you hanging on to old success patterns that are no longer working for you? Try this quiz.

All of the above?

What do you expect of your boss?

To look after your career? To support you, be loyal?

Or direction, understanding?

Maybe you just want to be left alone to get on with it.

If you are a business, can you see your boss as a customer?

How would that change your expectations of your boss?

Would you now see it as your responsibility to meet your boss's needs rather than his/her job to look after you?

What might you do differently to help your boss be successful?

How can you position yourself as a vital strategic partner?

If you have style differences, what do you have in common?

How can you build on your common ground?

Focusing on differences is a dead end, but OK to be aware of.

What new and exciting services can you offer your boss?

What is your boss working on that you can help make happen?

How clear are you about your boss's expectations of you?

If your boss is your customer, then is it not up to you to find out?

Conversely, if you see yourself as your boss's employee then you will reassure yourself that it's your boss's problem if he/she can't make it clear what's expected of you.

This is a dangerous attitude in today's world.

Is your boss the nervous type always breathing down your back?

How can you buy yourself some space?

Complaining won't help much. It's better to show him/her how giving you more space will better help meet his/her needs while suffocating you could detract from your ability to deliver.

What is your influencing style? Try this quiz.