Still Photo of Colin Farrell in Horrible Bosses by John P. Johnson – © 2011 New Line Productions Inc.

Can’t stand your job because of your boss? Or maybe you’re the bad boss who’s driving everyone nuts.

Well this weekend I saw the Seth Gordon movie, “Horrible Bosses,” in which Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey and an almost unrecognizable Colin Farrell portray some wacky, over the top, bad bosses.   In the movie, three friends, played by Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day, want a more conducive work environment, so they plot the ultimate demise of their awful bosses.

After watching the movie, it got me thinking about the notion of the “bad” boss.  Deep down inside we love a good “bad” boss movie. We have sensationalized bad bosses in movies, TV shows and other media for years.  From the award winning FX original series “Damages” and NBC’s “The Office” to the movies like “The Proposal,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Working Girl,” “Nine to Five” and don’t forget my favorite, the pointy haired boss in the “Dilbert” comic strip.

Bad and ineffective bosses exist in every organization.  A study conducted by Delta Road published in Forbes magazine reported that 80% of the employees surveyed identified their boss as a lousy manager.  And almost 70% in that study stated that their immediate superior had “no clue” what to do to become a good manager.

The worst bosses fail to trust employees, don’t respect employees, and intimidate employees.  Author Harvey Hornstein, Ph.D., estimates that 90% of the U.S. work force has been subjected to abusive behavior at some time.  Powerhouse Henry Ford who is admired for being the first company to provide many of the benefits were enjoy today spied on his employees and hired thugs to crush union organizers.

So, what can you do if you are working for a bad boss?

1. It could be situational. Start by understanding that your boss may not know he or she is bad. The definition of “bad” depends on your needs, the manager’s skills and the circumstances.
2. Take an honest analysis of your actions and behavior. Some studies suggest that only 30 percent of employees in the workforce are truly effective in their current roles or are truly good at what they do.  How have you been handling yourself in your job? Have you always taken the high road, or have you resorted to occasional backstabbing, gossiping, or underperforming? Find other sources of positive reinforcement for doing your job to the best of your abilities.
3. Don’t sacrifice your health or self-esteem. If you have experienced a total meltdown with this person; it is time to try a new strategy: forgiveness. Regain your strength and move forward with confidence and professionalism.
4. What is it that is driving you nuts? Write it down, sit with it for a few days and then review it to rank the list of offenses from the worst to the least.  Pick your top three and work with a coach or mentor to develop coping strategies to deal with the bad behavior.  You are not going to change a bad boss but you can change how it affects you or how you respond.

The worst thing you can do is simply to do nothing, hoping the problems will get resolved. No job, boss, or company is worth losing your sanity.

I would like to hear from you.  Do you have a “bad” boss?  How do you cope with the situation?  Any advice for other who might be working one right now?

Or are you the boss? We know you get a bad rep.  Share with us your frustrations and how employees can ease the pain.

Contact Mary Hladio, (513) 984-9333 for a 30-minute complimentary consultation to discuss a better way to increase leadership effectiveness in your organization with the FUEL™ process.

Web: www.embercarriers.com|Twitter: www.twitter.com/embercarriers|LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mhladio

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• Half of Us Have Had ‘Horrible Bosses': How to Handle Them (dailyfinance.com)