12.07.2023
BEFORE YOU LEAVE BECAUSE OF A BAD BOSS
In extreme situations - when you work with a boss who is harassing you in one way or another, you may want to confront your boss and/or report the situation to Human Resources. But our advice to most people leaving toxic bosses is to move gracefully to the exit door in the four ways discussed here.
Even if your boss annoys you, don't act impulsively. Take time to decide if you really want to leave. Your boss may make you feel like you're living in a nightmare, but there may be good reasons for not leaving. For example, you may be learning skills and gaining experience that will put you in a good position to get a promotion or a higher-level job elsewhere.
One reader responded, “I once quit a job after only 6 days - due to micromanagement.” While rushing for the exit door is understandable in such situations, this speed approach doesn't give you time to at least try to improve the situation. Give your decision some time, weigh the pros and cons, and make sure you're not giving up on something that might turn out to be better than it seems at first glance.
The danger in leaving hastily is that you allow someone else (your boss) to determine the trajectory of your career.
When you decide to leave, it's always tempting to lash out at the person you're running from. You might want to say, "I can't take your idiocy anymore, I'm leaving!".
You might even want to be more blunt, telling your boss that he has a toxic management style, that he's losing people, including you, because he's not up to his role. If your boss was really toxic, this might be the best course of action. Sometimes it is right to confront the offender directly and say what you have always wanted to say so that outdated patterns of behavior can be left in the past.
But under normal circumstances, this approach would be wrong and your career could suffer, as such an outburst would ensure that this person would never have a good word to say about you. If your next employer asks for a reference, you won't get particularly good reviews from your former boss. I once left a bad boss who regularly called everyone on his team idiots, but I never confronted him when I left. I waited until he was traveling and called him to say I was leaving. I thanked him for everything he taught me. We left on good terms, having lunch today as friends.
When you start looking for your next job, it's best not to share the news (except with close friends). If you get the word out that you're on the job market, the perception of you will change.
Instead, keep your job search a secret, don't share the fact with your boss or even your coworkers. In this way, you will continue to perceive yourself as part of the team and receive new tasks. News travels fast in a work environment, and if you tell someone you're looking for a job, that information is bound to reach your boss's ears. As a result, there may be consequences that you would like to avoid.
If you decide to leave your bad boss, it's best not to attack him during your job interview with a prospective employer. This can be an emotionally charged topic for you, and if you're not careful, you can go into too much negative detail and ruin your chances of landing the next job.
Just think about it - who would want to hire someone who constantly complains about their former boss, or had a bad relationship with them? Even if it was all your boss's fault, you don't want to end up in that scenario. The conclusion your interviewer will draw is that you don't get along well with people. The ability to collaborate is one of the most important qualities employers look for. Don't let your bad feelings about your boss get in the way of landing your dream job.
