How to Address a Bullying Boss

A bullying boss can affect your well-being and home life.

Some bosses are micromanagers, monitoring your every move, and some are never available to provide direction. But according to Bradford Agry, a career coach at Columbia Business School, a bullying boss is difficult to endure. Bullying bosses taunt and intimidate their employees, and the effects of their behavior often spill over into their employees' home lives and well-being. Everyone has irritating moments, but a bullying boss makes a habit of taunting and intimidating.

Instructions

1. Document all interactions with your boss that result in bullying and inappropriate behavior. Record dates, times, witness and statements. This record will prevent your boss from refuting your claims.

2. Avoid matching a bullying boss's antics. Remain silent if your boss raises his voice and keep your cool during his outbursts. This tactic will give you the upper hand and allow witnesses to see that you are not the person with the problem, says Agry.

3. Confront your boss in a stern yet respectful manner to gain leverage. Like playground bullies, bullying bosses have no regard for their victim's feelings, and they rarely, if ever, apologize. However, a bully can intimidate and taunt you only if you allow it. Use a statement such as, "I'm sorry you think you have to act in this manner, but I will not tolerate this behavior. It is inappropriate for the workplace," to disarm your boss. According to psychologist Harry Levinson, Ph.D., this method is effective because it often takes unexpected control to force bullies to back off.

4. Consider recruiting a support team to confront your boss. Approaching your boss about his behavior is a risky move, and while standing up for yourself can earn his respect, confrontation could place your job in jeopardy. Management consultant Neil Lewis, Ph.D., says that the higher your boss is on the organizational chart, the more allies you need. Speak with coworkers to determine if your boss's behavior is indiscriminate or isolated. If your boss's provocative behavior affects other employees, confronting your boss as a team is more compelling than approaching him alone.

5. Inform your company's human resources department of your boss's behavior if individual or group efforts fail to resolve his aggressive behavior. According to Levinson, larger companies often have procedures to report bullies. If you work for a smaller company, however, leaving the organization might be your only recourse if you have a bullying boss.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay abreast of work issues and maintain high-quality work to prevent adding fuel to your boss's tirades.

References

• Psychology Today: When the Boss Is a Bully
• Columbia University Business School Alumni: Dealing With a Difficult Boss

Resources

• University of South Carolina: Handling a Bad Boss