How to Deal with a Yelling Boss

It is demeaning to employees when their bosses yell at them for everything.

Working for a boss that yells a lot can cause workers to feel miserable. Bosses that yell come across as jerks and employees feel frustrated, angry and upset. Some people consider this a form of abuse and many workers feel like it lowers their productivity. Some employees may try to perform better to prevent their bosses from yelling; however, others may assume that no matter what they do, the boss will still yell, so they see no point in trying.

Instructions

1. Avoid taking it personally. Most of the time when a boss yells, remember that it is not directly related to your work. Bosses often have a lot of stress and responsibilities and any little mistake or problem sets them off. Sometimes they are upset about things that they did wrong themselves. Instead of them dealing with their problems on their own, they take them out on the people around them.

2. Remain calm. Try not to get upset and never yell back. You cannot stop your boss from yelling and carrying on, but you can control your own reactions. Other coworkers will notice his behavior, and they will notice yours. Always try to act professional and polite, even if your boss does not.

3. Walk away. You do not have to tolerate a boss yelling at you, especially if you did nothing wrong. When he starts yelling, tell him you are taking a break and will be back in ten minutes, or simply walk away. Let him know by your response that you will not tolerate being spoken to in that manner.

4. Look for a pattern. Sometimes a boss will yell more when deadlines are approaching. His stress level might be directly related to these deadlines. If you notice a pattern, try helping him out by making certain that all of your duties are completed on time. Go a step further and help and encourage other coworkers to also do the same.

5. Talk to him about this issue. Take him aside and explain that you do not understand why he acts this way. Keep a polite, yet diplomatic tone and tell him how it makes you feel when he treats you this way. Also explain that his behaviors might be counterproductive, which might be part of the problem. Tell him that you want to do your job well, but it is difficult to do when he treats you like that.

6. Talk to his supervisor. If the yelling continues and you cannot handle it anymore, speak to his boss about his behavior. If that does not make a difference, you may have to consider finding a different job if your boss doesn't change his behavior and you can no longer tolerate it.

References

• Work Place Harrassment Law; How to Deal With a Bad Boss; March 2010
• US News Money; How to Handle a Boss Who Yells; Alison Green; January 2009