Not an expert, but maybe this can help http://blogs.hbr.org/2012/06/dealing-with-a-bad-boss/

There are self help books on How to Deal With Difficult People and How to go along With Almost Anyone. Bad boss is defined in different perspective. In my practice, I always adhere to policy and ethical standards to manage conflict and differences.

I recommend you to read this book GOOD BOSS, BAD BOSS

for ROBERT I. SUTTON,

Well, from my point of view, the organization should have counseling advisor who has the ability to resolve the conflict between the manager and the employees. Raising the awareness about the organization policies and guidelines that provide the necessary atmosphere during the working hours. This awareness make all the employees aware of the right and recommended behavior. Boss should go into set of trainings that qualify him/her for better communication with subordinates. The most important step in this strategy is that top management should know about the issue of 'Bad Boss' to be able to take the required steps to resolve this matter before it affect the productivity and performance of the organization.

Thanks for all of you replies. M

One approach whether one gets along with a boss or not is to create the conditions where the employer has no choice but to get along with you. This means learning every business process, every task, every software application; to build a strong cross-functional networks internally and externally and generally to know as many people in the company as possible on a personal and genuine basis. The goal is to become "the go to person". The accumulation of knowledge and relationships will naturally drive others in the company to come to you for solutions; even in areas that areas not related to your position.

The benefits are many and the bad boss situation is usually mitigated.

Lifted from your valuable information I strongly agree that learning every business process, every task, every software application; to build a strong cross-functional networks internally and externally and generally to know as many people in the company as possible on a personal and genuine basis. Very well said that competence, human relation, and be the solution in the workplace will not provide space for the bad boss.

Thank you Florencia.

Albert Einstein said:“Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”

Therefore, I see no reason in asking or answering questions that will be revised in a way that gives no arguments for censoring.We,as scientists,should be the defenders of truth and the freedom of expressing one’s thoughts If something should stand in our way,we are to find ways to peacefully remove the obstacles.

Dr. Paul R. Yarnold,

Thanks for sharing your frank thoughts,

The reason I wrote this question is because, I have had my own bad bosses: the kind that steal your ideas and use them as their own, punish you when you produce results.....it has led me astray.

Your experience should not go to waste lots of young people could benefit from it. For example, we could use you here in Canada and other countries the same. Think of it as an adventure, unless you are tired of the entire teaching experience.

Either way, glad you had the strength to make the change and I hope you are happier now. 

Good Luck & keep in touch if you wish,

Daryn

To deal with bad bosses, one can use the following strategies:

1. Become the expert in work

2. Be gentle, create followers

3. Don't criticize the boss openly

4. Create the situation in which boss needs your expertise/services

5. Realize the boss gently not by arrogantly, you are not only OK  --- we are also OK.

6. Follow Interpersonal strategy i.e. I am OK, you are also OK.

7. Etc ... !

Thank you Dr. Kundu,

Very useful value added information.

Daryn

Examples of real world bullying include the "bad boss" behaviours

http://www.ihraustralia.com/news-and-opinion/when-is-a-bad-boss-a-bully

Sometimes the best option may be to simply find a new place. Unfortunately, some people are beyond saving. Maybe you could report to their superior(s) if they turn out to be a large-scale problem.

Finding a new place is not always simple, however, so it helps to load your guns before you fire (i.e. submit some applications).

This is, of course, after you have personally confronted them about the problem(s) that you have with them. Tread carefully either way.

I am not a specialist on the management of people. But the life experience has enabled us to better understand the problems. I think the best way to fight against bad bosses require the unity of all staff not to strike but to be united in its claim while performing their work. It really attracts attention and arouses in him questionings

Great contributions everybody, especially those for Subhash.

I would say that dealing with bad bosses needs the one to act politically correct all the time. Regards

A bad boss is a bad boss.

One has to tackle it on multiple fronts.

One way is read the pattern of behavior of the boss and be proactive.

And also know own behavior pattern as the boss is going to be actually hurting more on those fronts..

On a personal note - i have tried being good at my job to make myself indispensable. But that actually boomerangs. The boss starts working towards getting you out. as you become a threat to the chair and the occupant of it. (i mean the boss).

Rather being politically correct helps more.

The  Transnational analysis theories gives us an insight. 

Dear sirs,

My idea of dealing with bad bosses is exactly the same as dealing with good bosses.:

Try my best to be polite, respectful, and coherent with the principle of trying my best to be efficient.

Sometimes, bad bosses are a creation of our mind. They are trying their best to be bosses and we should try our best to deal with it.

(the same principle goes for husbands and/or lovers - by the way! -)

Best suggestion is:

"Never do gossip, and Never be part of gossips, whosoever is your Boss..! Good or Bad".

Stay on your track. This will keep you away from any controversy while facing your Boss.

Good Luck.

I will write in detail after some time about my varied colourful experiences. In my opinion,sincere and dedicated hard work is the only solution to get  pleasure and satisfaction in life.Believe in God and one should be God fearing and not Boss fearing. Honesty and hard work will definitely get recognition one day in your life span. Some people get recognition in their service tenure, some get later,some get  during 85-90's years age,  and some get posthumously.

I might not care for posthumous glory or comfort at work...

Rule #1:   THE BOSS IS ALWAYS RIGHT

Rule #2:   WHEN THE BOSS IS WRONG  REFER TO RULE #1

cheers

Probably a diplomatically planned route for escaping could be the best strategy, otherwise, even serious health problems could arise...

@ Dr. D. P. S. Rathore

I fully agree with you and suggest all to

"Focus on developing your own identity in your professional career by strengthening your credentials. You will always be at safe place in your career. Be honest with you yourself, humble with people and sincere with your job".

"Never do gossip, and Never be part of gossips, whosoever is your Boss..! Good or Bad".

Hi Dr. Maria Bettencourt Pires,

Thanks for you response and its an interesting one:

Even if you don't care about glory, consider: most people spend a lot of our lives at work, for some it becomes a defining characteristic of their person. Don't you think, at a very minimum, one should not have to dread going, or being there. 

Daryn

Tit for Tat....a very basic principle our scriptures guide.

In my opinion, tolerating a bad boss means multiplying his/her bad-ness by many folds. You can not improve a boss yes only compromise or ....as above.

Dr. Talib Abbas,

Thank you sir, clear and easy to understand & I suppose I'd have to agree, so long is the boss is respectful-of course. If not, I always have the option to "diplomatically exit" as Dr.Christopoulos puts it. 

Daryn

A bad boss can never influence or apply his trick on those who have proved credentials and who are at their best practices at work.

If people or subordinates have similar complains about Boss being bad, than a psychological test and counselling of boss should be done through organization. May be Boss has personal or family problem etc. We should treat him also as human.

Good organizations have such counselling venues for their employees, so that a healthy environment should be sustained and enhance work productivity.

Hussain Saleem Bhai, yes it is . Dedicate yourself for the mission and mandate of organization/country.

I have had a few bosses. But every day I see a person I do not get along well with I try to ask myself, what if I have a son with those characteristics? So, in such a situation I try to learn how to live with that person and I leave his presence only when I experience success with him.

In my humble opinion the base of all the bad events is always the lack of culture. Not the abstract form of ego that fills those who rise to the throne to hear themselves. I mean, for culture, the subtle form of thought which penetrates everyday life and subverts it. Cancel the clichés and seeks understanding. The respect that is given by the knowledge and awareness of other people's lives.

Whoever has a bad situation at work I recommend to solve it first. People do to us what we allow them to. Other people will do the same to you if you let them. Fight with them? Never!!! Conquer them ALWAYS. So, we are cooparticipant in our ordeals. When I say DO NOT LET THEM HARM YOU, I am not saying to stretch your arms wide, but to speak to their hearts, to their minds and make them a friend. If they are going to hold to a high standard, only the future will tell, but that will be a new battle. Win one battle at a time before looking for a new challenge. The same problem will not probably happen again, if it does you will count with your previous experience solving it. Also, sometimes, we change problems, but do not find a solution.

In his opinion, should be treated with Baher Nfrmtnasb

But always treated well by "bad employer" on your "bad employer" is both impressive and will be ashamed of employer

Paul R. Yarnold,

I am not an MD, just a Master's candidate.

Thanks for your warm comments to the group and for answering our questions.

I wish you all the best,

Daryn

These can avoid one becoming a Bad boss

General Rule

If you are able to identify that your boss is bad -> handling  is very easy 

Just imagine, for becoming member in RG, it didn't happen straight-after our birth. We went for several schools/colleges/exams/competitions/applications/interviews.........

By having those much amount of wealth of experiences, handling one bad person is much easier if you identified your boss nature

Some very good actors are still there in scientific community as boss - we can't identify them easily but able to do it only after facing trouble with them.

After identification, depending upon your circumstances, ignore them and move out

OR

try to adjust it and think about how to establish yourself in those hard environment  

I totally agree with Maria Bettencourt Pires.  Bosses and lovers should all be loved. If they´re bad bosses, kill them with kindness!

Remembered some one mentioned "hate the sin and not the sinner" - you might not agreed with what the bad things the boss has done but need to respect him / her as a person you need to deal with (separate the boss from bad things). 

Suggesting to evaluate his /  her strengths and leverage on them so that you can complete your tasks assigned (we can only change what we can control).  At the same time, we need to reflect ourselves whether any area we can improve to minimize the conflict with the boss.

Thanks for asking this question...

Luckily I always got good bosses, but the same time all my colleagues were not having the same views about them...so my answer may seem totally theoretical and not applied..

We do not like bosses because we want to do something and he/she asks us to do something else...like any other thing here also the basic cause of anger/disliking is expectation...expectation that our every action will be liked/praised.....How is that possible dear...Leave expectations....life will be more beautiful...

I agree with Maria that 'Sometimes, bad bosses are a creation of our mind'....only change i would like to make in the sentence is replace sometimes with 'most of the times'...

in my opinion you can not change anybody even by a infinitesimally small amount.... that's impossible...so better to try change yourself according to situation/boss...I also know it is very difficult to implement this theory...but situation will become better if implemented...How....you only know...

Regards

Dear All

I think that most aspects have been well covered. I can only add that:

What a Boss does may appear to be all wrong, all right or somewhere in between. The doubt about what to do appears only in the 'somewhere in between situation'; when you are not sure. But when you are sure that it is all bad; then you have two choices, depending on whether it will affect the company/the staff/the public. In that case you have two choices: If you have the guts, stay on and fight openly, or just pack up and leave. If you can't do either just keep mum and continue suffering. Well you can assure yourself that you are doing it because you dare not take the other two alternative paths, and thus allay your conscience pangs

Narayanan

If boss is bad by attitude, confrontation will not help. Continue to work, extend normal behaviour, and let him/her to realise by your working and behaviour that you are important the boss and the organisation.

If the boss is bad by circumstances, understand these circumstances and help the boss to come out from these circumstances and become normal.

If the boss is victim of wrong ego state i.e. I am OK only, subordinates by their competence, expertise, and positive behaviour let realize the boss that subordinates are also OK.

In my own experience the easy way is to deliver what ever they ask in a timely manner at a level of excellence.  Learn their expectations and operate within them.  Of course give them the odd suggestion that makes them look good in the eyes of their superiors.  Within three months this will be a good boss.

Cheers

A boss is chosen by the vertical of authority in the corrupted society- in all structures. Good boss or bad doesn't matter for the staff."What a tailor can do!" F.Goya, 1797

Dear All,

I would try to help to  change his/her mental models which are probably influencing behaviors. You can change even your boss if you are skillful enough. I believe there is no bad person, there is ill-thought person. Everybody has a manual to make his/her function well up and downwards. Regards.  

I do not believe in good or bad bosses. Bosses should ignite the mind to think ahead. Everyone has got limitation and capabilities. No one is perfect.  It all depends on individual aptitude , how one thinks and act  differently from others.

Everyone should maintain the dignity in the office weather boss or subordinate.

Albert Einstein said:“Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”                Everyone is working for the organization or country and not for the individual.  What is the best strategy for dealing with bad bosses? In my opinion, mind your own business, nothing more. Just do your duty. Forget promotions, maintain self- respect and moral values.  Moral values are Ultimate.

Dear Daryn

I think it is time you linked this question with the other one (What is the relationship between organizational politics and job satisfaction?). Isn't Bad bosses a creation of office politics and vice versa?

:)

Narayanan

Hello Daryn,

I have not yet come across a 'best strategy' model for dealing with "bad bosses", however having observed people that have been successful at handling abusive managerial leaders, I have no doubt that Wisdom is required.

Given the various ways in which this phenomenon can be viewed, to begin with, a clear definition/clear description of a "bad boss" would be useful. What is the context? After all, One man's meat is another man's poison. Some people say that a boss that does not conform to certain immoral practices of the firm or society is to be regarded as a "bad boss" - bad for the business. When does a boss really become a "bad boss"? 

There are of course issues about measurements here. I am currently engaged in researching abusive managerial leadership.... Happy to discuss...

Now to contribute to some of the comments made so far. Any type of behavior which is unnecessarily destructive or psychopathic we all know should be taken seriously.

Being passive (getting on with work as if nothing has happened), I have no doubt is certainly not a good strategy. I am fully aware that such responses have exacerbated or at least contributed to many workplace catastrophes, business failures, and on-going problems within work organisations today. Need we be reminded about the Banking industry?  Simply hoping that the 'bad boss' will change (particularly when getting on with ones work and hoping things will change is not what one is meant to be doing), is another way of leaving the problem for someone else to handle, and therefore could be deemed as an act of cowardice. Thank goodness we do not live in a world where not all people turn a blind eye and "mind their own business". Caring about what happens to my fellow human being, and something that could potentially have an impact on me is certainly what I call, minding my own business. Don't get me wrong here. I do agree, and Wisdom says that we should choose our battles carefully; and there is also another dictum: Only a fool meddles in a quarrel that is not their own.

In a competitive world some people believe that hiring 'bad bosses' or "Corporate Psychopaths" (author, and studies by Clive Body) or "Snakes in Suites" (authors, and studies by P. Babiak and R.D. Hare) is the only way to survive a hugely competitive world. Oh Well! What can we say about this? Absolute rubbish! This stupendously warped belief can be likened to athletes who accept that the only way to win in sports is by cheating, for e.g., by taking banned substances, and not putting in the required effort to be efficient and effective (successful). Ha! What happens to them eventually? Right, they are crowned with shame, stripped of their title, and left with a ruined career.

It is imperative to think about the cost of 'bad-bosses" to work organisations i.e. organisation/business reputation, performance issues stemming from employee absenteeism, legal costs, sustainable productivity etc., even if the cost has no obvious major impact in the short term. Taking things further, when all gets out of hand, the impact on society, and the economy in the long run. What kind of society are we breeding when something that is so obviously negative is overlooked and regarded as acceptable? What hope does the future generation have?

The issue of dealing with Bad bosses goes beyond the acceptance of organisation politics (see "Employing bureaucracy" Sanford Jacoby, 2004).

Best

Lola-Peach

"Treat fairly" may be one of the strategies for dealing with bad bosses.

Seagull Manager overview

The Seagull flies into a project, makes a lot of noise, craps over everything, and flies off. This is the opposite from the Micro manging, because the Seagull pays no attention to the project for the most part. These managers have doubts about the success of the project under any circumstances, so they want to distance themselves from the fallout. When Seagull Manager's projects do succeed, it is usually because of heroic efforts on the part of the project team after a lot of rework and wasted time.

http://www.dougsguides.com/badbosses2

@Lola-Peach: Excellent reply!

Is a bad boss one who e.g., conforms to the institutional mentality of only reporting good news upwards?

A bad boss is how one defines a bad boss, if you are lucky, you don't have a definition. My original intent was to address an HR issue of unnecessary turnover. Data suggests that far too often, employees don't leave good company's the leave bad bosses. Moreover, a bad manager can also be defined by their, psychopathy, lack of a moral centre or level of competence.

Hi Lola-Peach,

Absolutely, everything happens in context and you touch upon a few other interesting points. I personally have experienced a situation where a boss was horrible to his employees without ever braking the law and, so long as this individual achieved results the company endorsed his behaviour. Most employees who were aware of his behaviour did nothing. This had the effect of emboldening the abuses to the point where the manager did brake the law. Eventually, the company faced several court decisions that forced it to pay millions in unpaid wages, overtime, damages, fines and legal fees. Further, the court rulings were significant enough to make the news and hurt the company's image. The company now has a union and they only have themselves to blame.

There are strategies to develop one's career and personal equity within a company which have the concurrent effect of demotivating a manager from taking credit for anothers sales, ideas or other successes. Promotions are competitive and managers will use their authority over subordinates to stave of what they believe to be career threats. In short, there are things that can be done to make one's self an unattractive target. I'll comment on this further when this thread winds down.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts,

Daryn

I can say that dealing with bad boss issue has two facets:

1. What can we do as an individual?

    There can be some tactics to advise people in order to protect themselves (micro-level)

2. What can we do as an organization?

    This part is very important since it is one of the most important leverage points for organizational survival. If an organizational structure, climate and culture are designed to convey the bad guys up and the good guys down, this structure and the behavior as a product of the structure create an enormous entropy within the organization. In a very short time, top management of the organization is totally captured by these bad guys and that means catastrophe. 

If the boss is part of the system or the establishment, then most of the employees will be scared to support your rebellion against such bad boss. Never enter into a battle, alone, against a despotic boss & never adopt a hypocritic attitude towards him/her. Just do your job duties in an honest manner & try to avoid unproductive talks because your words will be transmitted to the boss by his/her spies. Be sure that the bad boss will be rejected by others & once you become aware that there are plenty of supporters, then do not waste time in hitting him/her very hard (through collective effort) in order to get rid of the nightmare that was imposed on the organization.

Dear Daryn,

The best way to deal with a bad boss is to buy the company and fire him or her!!!!

Douglas

 Nice answer Prof. Roland

Simply, "No other way" - so  accept, adjust and live with it as in the family 

OR

"Go away"   I am able to find one of my own interest like before proposing

Articulating more on this ......Exposing a boss would bring in vulnerability to subordinate's position, meanwhile other superior's may not also like to have such subordinates under them.

Recently , I got admitted as Fellow ( FRSC) in  Feb, 2015. Superior authority of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research made a remarks in his communication : "Such society accepts nomination on payment basis". I strongly objected to his remarks and asked them to update themselves  from RSC  website. I will describe the attitude of such bosses  "as an event". This is the scientific system / style of functioning of organisation   in India. No one knows every thing . There is always need to update . Keep on updating , nothing else.

He is afraid that you will get a Padmashri, I am sure. Can't you go to CAT or something like that and get this expunged,? At least consult a lawyer.

Narayanan

Narayanan

I think a boss is not there to be good or be bad, he/she has to do his/her job correctly, to take care of the employees, respect them, encourage and motivate them for the purpose of the organization's successes and the job efficiency. (en d'autres terms des travailleurs non motives ne fourniront  pas des resultats satisfaisants ou des produits de  qualite, quel serait le benefice du boss en etant bad). A bad boss, bad results and bad work. When employees are successful, the organization will gains more credibility and the boss more credential from his superiors. Without employees, there is no organization and no bosses..A boss who respects the employees, is always respected and esteemed by them even if he has bad things in his life who could make him with bad emotional or relational moments. Career advancement is a right and should be scheduled properly, i couldn't undestood why a boss could be able to neglect or block the career of his subordinates, what could be his personal gain from that ?? to demotivate his employees ???

Fairouz, one example: image you present an idea to your boss that reduces the cost of production by 5% for a product you manage. It costs nothing to implement and so s/he decides to implement it without your knowledge, and when the benefits are clear s/he takes credit for it. This individual has now forwarded their personal career agenda at your expense. I envy the individual whom has never had to deal with this sort of behavior. Even if you find a way to take back the credit, which you should not have to, you will have hurt your relationship with your boss.

Dear Narayanan Bhattathiri, I will comment later in depth on this issue. The moral values  have declined drastically.

Daryn, i understood well your behavior, many people have no morality and use their power ship positions as a personal profit, they are also able to take from others, expertise, knowledge and ideas for their self career agenda, in that case they are able to make bad things to others. Those are able to evolve in a non democracy and non meritocracy. Stolen ideas couldn't be a permanent profit , sooner or later their weakness will be discovered and they will fail.

Dear DPS

Better not. In any nation, DAE or similar departments are Big Brothers (as in "The Big Brother is watching") and  can be very sensitive; especially the bosses. You may consult a lawyer, but keep it private. Walls have ears, remember.

May be best thing is just grin and bear it; Learn to do minimum work; study well on the Stock Market and discuss it (it may be very fruitful), even with your Boss. Always make sure that you go for breakfast, tea, lunch and tea breaks. They must be very subsidized, anywhere in the world, for Atomic Energy people I presume.

I too have a close friend who is FRSC. He is doing very well now after retirement; he did not get any benefit for this in Govt or Semigovernment service. Plan now on itself  what you will do after retiring, and how you will utilize the FRSC for your benefit then

Keep well

Narayanan

Sorry Dr. Narayanan Bhattathiri, I strongly disagree with you. I do not require money. One should always contribute your best to the organisation  and to the country. God is always  watching you even in isolated dark places. I believe in work work.....

Practice gratitude for EVERYTHING, even difficult emotions, because of their potential to wake you up. When life is sweet today, say THANK YOU and celebrate. When life is bitter today, say THANK YOU and grow…

It is said that the “stance of happiness” is a deep appreciation for what is and eager anticipation of what’s next. Try this stance on today by regularly repeating this mantra: “For all that has been, THANKS. For all that will be, YES.”

Are you satisfied in your life? if not, What measures you are adopting for your own reform?. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_you_satisfied_in_your_life_if_not_What_measures_you_are_adopting_for_your_own_reform [accessed Apr 21, 2015].

Quite, right. It is the right thing to do; I said the other because most people are possibly doing that. But remember to keep issues with Atomic bosses very very private, that is all. It is for your safety. In our language we say 50% u do, 50% God will. RG is a very public place

Narayanan

Why some people are happier than others? I believe in: learning, self-motivation, hard work, dedication etc,

Some interesting results have been reported in a recent publication, which I would like to share here. Their observation showed that: (a) Happy people scored higher on their motivation to perform, and their recognition and enactment of kind behaviors. (b) Happy people have more happy memories in daily life in terms of both quantity and quality. (c) Subjective happiness was increased simply by counting one’s own acts of kindness for one week. (d) Happy people became more kind and grateful through the counting kindnesses intervention.

D.P.S,

I like and respect your outlook on life, and I will remember your ideas when times are good and times are tough. 

Thank You,

Daryn

DPS

Yes, that is the spirit. Keep it up

Narayanan

1. In a lighter vein, the best strategy would be to quit. Let him have a ball and please do go ahead and have one yourself too!!!

2. To get a back to the question with seriousness: first and foremost, every organization (meaning bosses) must realize that there are no good or bad people. Some are suited to the organizational culture and therefore are to be carried along as a team. Some simply are not suited to organizational culture and therefore need to be told "thank you". We do not run organizations for social service and charity. Even in such organizations there is a culture and philosophy to be adhered to. If this is clear in both the boss' mind and to the subordinate, neither need to be "bad" to each other.

3. Second, when we begin to think that WE ARE ABSOLUTELY INDISPENSABLE to this organization then we become arrogant and start treating subordinates badly. It is good to take sometime off (may be tee off a bit and sit down later with a pint of chilled lager!!) and reflect on this: am I really that larger than life that I can treat others like vermin? If Warren Buffet thinks that way, he wouldn't be making his billions; if Jobs thought that way, he would perhaps have died hunting for better jobs; if Ambani thinks that way, they would still be small time petty merchants. No one has ever achieved anything all by themselves. No organization can. Without people to follow and work for them, even Gandhi and Mandela wouldn't be household names today. Even god needs the devout to stay put as god. When this becomes clear in one's mind, then the futility of being bad would be starkly evident. Be tough, demand, drive and run yourself; there is just no need to be 'bad'.

4. If both the above options are not appealing enough, please go back to point no.1.

Hope this helps. Have a great day. 

Hi All,

As the sponsor of this thread, I felt it time to add my two cents:

What is the best strategy for dealing with bad bosses?

I use the word strategy because it implies assessing, planning and executing, in the same way many people plan their actions and careers. I have had one boss who has coloured my experience in this regard and so as to not repeat the experience, I plan for it.

The best way of dealing with all co-workers is politely, professionally and genuinely, as Ms. Pires mentions in her post. Not everyone is going to like you, and so (friendly) mutual respect should be the optimal goal. Moreover, the ultimate goal of all of one's work behaviours should be to create the conditions where the employer views you as invaluable. This means learning every business process, every task, every software application; to build a strong cross-functional network internally and externally and generally; to know as many people in the company and as many stakeholders as feasible, on a personal and genuine basis. Being genuine builds trust and mutual efficacy, therein the objective is to become "the go to person" or "the expert" as Mr. Kundu and Mr. Russo stated.

The accumulation of knowledge and relationships will naturally drive others in the company to come to you for solutions; even in areas that are not related to your position. When one gets that first call or email from a colleague, whom has worked for the company longer than you and who you do not know well, asking for advice is a good indicator that the strategy is working. In addition, this is where the knowledge and networking pays off because you will not always have the answer. The key is providing someone with something of value and substance such as a contact person or calling someone on their behalf. Never turn someone away or say "I don't know" as this hurts your equity, and there is really no need as, there is bound to be someone in your network whom has had a similar experience.

As news trickles up and down the organizational hierarchy of your efforts, your equity in the company grows. It takes effort and time however, the benefits are many and the bad boss scenario never arises.

Up Daryn! Any bad boss will become good with your way; of course you have to be patient like the spider.

Narayanan

 Sometimes it may be difficult to be succesfull and advance in reputation and rewards, since this might hurt the vanity of the boss...she or he becomes gealous and mean, trying to minimize the merits of your work and she/he would be bullying ...oh yes, this happens quite often...what to do? I liked the advice to swim downwards...

 I agree with both Prof. Marković G. Đoko& Dr.Simona Frone in not trying to appease a "lousy" boss either by joining him/her or by trying to swim with the "hypocritical" tide. Do the best in your work & wait for a collective move. Never walk alone. I have learnt this since 1978 when I became a fan of Liverpool's Football Club. The song is attached & I think it helps a lot. My regards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9sFd3Ennhs

Dear  Maria,

There are degrees and characters of being a bad boss (which means that s/he is unsuitable for leading and so on…) thus I am afraid that your universal recipe cannot help. Of course, if the boss was an intelligent, well oriented leader s/he was aware that smart aims can be achieved only with common efforts and during operation the personnel scientific interests and capabilities should be involved and not the old recipe effects: the work is the task of subordinates and the result and triumph belong to the boss. In many cases the deformed often ignorant view of the boss will win.

The most efficient often impossible treatment of a bad boss is to leave the work place.

Dear Mario,

In Hungary, a subordinate can but obey, bosses can afford not to respect even the clear rules and laws of education like accreditation rules.

In some cases it is in hand of subordinate to ruin reputation of the boss. Indirectly you can hint that reputation of him and the department or company depend upon efficiency of his/her subordinates. If you are indifferent or lacking in efficiency out put of his department suffers. This may help.

if you have ability and grip on your job, your boss  is on weak side and vice versa. It is matter of fact : either you are his weakness or he is your weakness.

Living with proud and overcoming  your inefficiencies is the way to deal with bad bosses.

Rafique 

simple advice, work hard and believe in God. Be happy.