Blog

Everyone at some point in their lives has had a job they hated, or at least worked for a boss whose life long goal seemed to center around making their life a living nightmare. It can be very easy to get caught up in this kind of negativity and become depressed and bitter at your situation. If you are in this type of situation in your life, it's important to realize that you aren't alone, and that you do have options.

Option 1: Self-examination

Before you make any rash decisions to quit your job, or before you allow the root of bitterness to take root deep in the soil of your heart, it's always a good idea to examine yourself and the situation you are in at your current job and with your current boss. There are a few questions you should ask yourself and you should answer these questions as honestly as you possibly can.

The first question you should ask yourself is if you have given your current boss any reason to treat you the way he or she does. Has your boss criticized your work or work habits? Is there any truth to their observations? If the reason you are upset with your boss is because they don't simply allow you to slack off on your work responsibilities, then the problem isn't your boss, but your work ethic.

You should also honestly evaluate the work you are doing and whether or not it is less than your best. Sometimes our employers may seem short and rude with us because they know we are capable of doing better work, but we aren't living up to our potential currently. This is why you should take a long look at yourself and your situation before jumping to conclusions. Examining yourself can help you to avoid a lot of irrational choices that could be costly to your personal success.

Option 2: Friendly Confrontation

After you've taken some time to examine yourself to make sure the real issue isn't something you've said or done, you may want to consider a friendly confrontation with your boss. The word confrontation has received a bad rap in our society today and it is automatically assumed to be a bad thing. This simply isn't true. If a confrontation is handled with the right attitude in the right setting, it can be a very productive way to end a conflict.

If your boss is really stressing you out with things and the way he or she handles things, you should arrange for some private time for the two of you to politely discuss how you're feeling. It's important for you to keep your cool and to be open and honest with what's on your mind. Be prepared to hear their side of the story also and to take into consideration the things they say to you as well.

You should always strive to resolve the conflict first before you consider your third option. During this meeting you should do the following:

1. Tell your boss what you've observed.
2. Explain your feelings about what you have observed
3. Talk about solutions for getting on the same page

Option 3: Find a new job

The third option you have when experiencing a rough time with your boss is to find another job. You have to look at yourself as the ultimate product. No one else has the kind of skills and gifts with your personal style, so that makes you a commodity. If you place value on yourself and realize that your skills are sought after and beneficial for those you work for, you should have no problem finding a new job.

You should really take some time to think things through before you decide to quit and find other work. You should make sure you examine yourself and that you take some time to confront your boss and discuss with him or her the problems you're experiencing with them first. I would like to offer you some parting advice that may serve some of you well. Begin to view everything as an opportunity. This spat with your boss may help you look for opportunities of growth else where that you would have never seen. Remember, everything that happens is necessary to help you reach your destiny.