Some people think that the best managers are those who motivate and inspire their employees to do great work. The reality is that the best managers are those who inspire, motivate, and encourage their employees to achieve greatness.
Even so, some managers have a tendency to be toxic. CoachHub defines toxic management as a management style that destroys an individual’s dignity, self-confidence, or effectiveness through remonstrances, daily spikes, or inappropriate speeches.
These managers can make things difficult for you at work — and even make your job feel like more of a burden than anything else. If you find yourself dealing with one of these bad apples (or even multiple), here are five tips that might help:
1. Play the long game
Be the best version of yourself. Keep your eye on the prize and don’t let a toxic manager’s behavior affect your performance or make you feel guilty for not wanting to follow their lead.
After all, you’re here because you want to do good work and make a difference in your organization. A toxic manager will only try to undermine this goal by making it impossible for you to concentrate on anything other than the drama that comes with working with them.
2. Know when it’s time to leave
If things get really bad and no one else seems willing or able to step up then it may be time for you as an employee to move on; however, if there is another option available then take that route first before resorting back to being an employee at all costs regardless of whether they are toxic or not!
3. Pick your battles
When you’re dealing with a toxic manager, it’s important to pick your battles carefully. As much as you may want to fight on every issue, that’s not always practical or productive. It’s important to recognize what is worth fighting for and what isn’t.
For example, if your boss says something offensive about a coworker or client, it might be worth taking action—but if they make an off-color joke about your mom coming in this weekend and doing their taxes (which isn’t even right), let it go!
Don’t take things personally—or at least try not to show it when they do get under your skin! One of the best ways to deal with a toxic manager is by keeping calm and collected during especially difficult times (and there will definitely be some difficult times).
You don’t want to look like an emotional wreck so make sure that whatever issues come up don’t affect how well you work together with other members of the team as well as yourself at home after work hours too!”
4. Look for the positive takeaways — no matter how small
When you’re dealing with a toxic manager, it’s hard to find the positive. However, even in the worst situations, there’s always something you can take away (even if it’s just a new perspective). You may be able to learn something new or make a new connection that can help your career down the road.
You don’t want to go into every interaction hoping for things to get better — but keep an open mind and look for opportunities when they present themselves.
5. Note your accomplishments, big and small
One common mistake people make when dealing with a toxic manager is to assume that their boss is aware of all the good work they’re doing. It’s easy to feel like you are going unnoticed and underappreciated, especially when you’ve done so much and yet still feel unappreciated. This can be frustrating and demoralizing, but it doesn’t have to be!
The truth is that your boss may not even be aware of what you do because they aren’t paying attention or don’t see how much value it brings the company. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—it’s not just you! But what does it matter?
Well, for one thing: if someone doesn’t realize how valuable their employees are until after they leave (or get fired), then it’s likely that those employees won’t be around for long anyway (and no one will benefit from their hard work).
By taking note of your accomplishments now instead of waiting until later on down the road when things might already have begun changing course or worse…
6. Take time to recharge. If work is toxic, don’t bring it home with you
You may be tempted to call your manager out on their behavior, but that can backfire. It’s best to wait until you’re calm and collected before speaking up because a heated conversation will only make them more angry or defensive.
Also, remember that the boss has the power in this situation and you don’t want to upset them any further. If you’re feeling stressed about what’s going on at work, take time for yourself outside of work hours—it’ll help prevent burnout and keep your stress levels down.
Try taking a walk around the block or going for lunch with friends during non-working hours so they don’t feel like they’re being talked about (which can cause tension within teams).
7. If a toxic manager is driving you crazy, try not to let it get to you, and remember that you have support too
If a toxic manager is driving you crazy, try not to let it get to you. You’re not alone—and there are things that you can do about it.
You have support. There are people out there who will listen and give advice on how to deal with your situation. The first person should be a friend who understands what’s going on and can help you reframe the problem in a positive light, whether that means reminding yourself of all the good things happening in your life or simply being someone who listens without judgment when you need an outlet for your frustration and anger.
If this isn’t possible for whatever reason (maybe they don’t know how toxic their manager is), then reach out elsewhere: ask around for recommendations from colleagues or friends of friends until someone comes along who seems like they’d offer insight into how best to handle this situation without making it worse by being condescending or feeding into feelings of inadequacy (which may happen if asking managers directly).
Conclusion
If a toxic manager is driving you crazy, try not to let it get to you, and remember that you have support too.
