How to Deal With an Immature Boss

Employment researchers Sharon Jordan-Evans and Beverly Kaye say the main reason for quitting a job is a bad boss, according to Alexander Kjerulf's Chief Happiness Officer website. However, when the economy is slow or personal reasons force you to stay at a job, you need to figure out how to handle a difficult boss. While dealing with an immature boss can be frustrating, it is crucial to quickly pinpoint how her actions affect your work and make a plan. In doing so, you can move away from distractions and toward workplace harmony.

Instructions

• 1

  Be polite, but firm, when explaining your feelings.

  Talk to your boss. Set up a meeting that is mutually convenient and discuss how her actions affect your work. Give concrete examples of something she said or did that impacted your feelings or workload in a negative way. Give an example of how you wished she reacted instead.

• 2

  Treat an immature boss maturely. While your boss may be superior in rank, he is not a better person than you are. Show courtesy and use your manners even when he is doing the opposite toward you. Be a role model for how you expect to be treated and compliment your boss on his work achievements so he will likely do the same for you.

• 3

  Tell your boss how you want to be managed.

  Figure out how to make your work styles or schedules more compatible. If your boss is continuously late to work and you need to go over reports with her first thing in the morning, see how you can arrange the situation differently. After months of feeling your boss hardly ever checks in, for example, bring to her attention that you would like more supervision or feedback and arrange for that to happen.

• 4

  Maintain a professional relationship. Put boundaries in place even if your much-too-friendly or immature boss has not. Excuse yourself when the conversation veers too far away from work topics. The immature boss is likely to spread gossip or waste time talking about unrelated work issues. Make sure your name is not associated with her immaturity.

• 5

  Check your attitude and manage your anger. Showing your unhappiness by getting angry will cause an immature boss to fire back with resentment, instead of asking you what is fueling your feelings. Communicate why you are upset by setting up a meeting in a conference room, for example, where the two of you are on neutral ground.

• 6

  Show you are competent and can handle your work on your own.

  Keep micromanaging to a minimum. When you feel your boss is too concerned with the small details of your work day, make a plan. Tell her less about the small issues you are having on a project, for example. Reiterate what you need to accomplish and tell her you have it under control. Impress upon her that you will meet necessary deadlines and will check in if you have questions or problems.

• 7

  Treat your boss with kindness, but keep the relationship professional.

  Understand the reasons for your boss's immaturity. Perhaps she lacks the proper life or job experience for the position she holds. Or, maybe personal reasons are to blame for her inability to focus at the tasks at hand. Figure out where she might be coming from and turn your frustration into sympathy or understanding.