Proceed with caution
First things first: it is rare to have only good bosses throughout our entire career, says Rumi Mohd, associate director at recruitment agency Randstad Singapore, in an interview with Thrive.“Once in a while, we will find ourselves working for an unreasonable boss, particularly due to their difficulties in managing people,” he adds.
Regardless of why a superior’s management style is bad, hurtful actions should never be swept under the rug. Some red flags
include:- Micromanagement – an example being asking for minute detail updates regularly throughout the day
- Inappropriate tone and language, such as shouting or sarcasm
- Not giving credit where it’s due
- Displaying favouritism
- Making decisions that would impact the team without consulting them or providing necessary support
“Ultimately, these issues tend to stem from a lack of trust and poor communication in the workplace,” says Rumi, explaining that bosses are more likely to micromanage when they do not trust their staff to perform their duties responsibly. He adds that poor communication in particular often creates frustration and friction in the workplace, as employees could be acting on unclear instructions.
Time’s up
All this being said, there are many cases where the relationship between superior and subordinate is strained beyond repair 
. Some managers become verbally abusive, yelling at their staff and denigrating them. In extreme cases, bosses may even become physically abusive.“When you dread going to work and spend effort to avoid any interactions with your boss, continuing your employment with your company could lead to prolonged mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression,” warns Rumi.
Whether you choose to leave an organisation due to a toxic boss, or stay and fight to make it work, you need to start taking charge of your career.
Sometimes, even throwing in the towel might just be the one-way ticket to a more sustainable future that you need and deserve.
TL;DR
- Bad bosses are not uncommon, but that doesn’t make their behaviour acceptable
- Put in the effort to build a good working relationship with your boss and improve communication
- Verbal and physical abuse should never be tolerated
- Transferring to another department may be a possible solution if you do not wish to leave the company
- Do not be afraid to say goodbye if all else fails, as long as you have done the necessary research and preparation beforehand
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/beware-big-bad-boss
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