Tips for Dealing With a Passive Boss
Every company needs strong leaders. Without them, the business will fail to achieve goals, lose customers and employees, and possibly fail. That's what makes a passive boss such a disaster for the company and for individual employees like you. Discover several tips that help you deal with a passive boss as you find success at work.
What is a Passive Boss?
Passivity involves sitting on the sidelines and letting employees do whatever they want. It can be extreme, such as ignoring employees and expectations, or simply refusing to get involved in any issue until it becomes serious. You know your boss is passive when you see:
- No-show managers who assign a project and then disappear into their office
- Little employee motivation
- Missed deadlines and unfinished projects
- Increased conflict, stress and disagreement
- Unresolved problems that grow rather than shrink over time
- Lack of feedback for high performing and low performing employees
Take Action
When you figure out that you have a passive boss, understand that nothing you can do will change him or her overnight. However, you can take steps that address the passivity and improve your workplace.
- Consider personality. Managerial styles develop over the years and can be part of someone's personality. Your boss may not be trying to be a jerk on purpose, and this fact can help you have compassion as you decide your next step.
- Focus on helpfulness. Approach your boss with an attitude of helpfulness as you seek to make real change. Deal with your frustrations beforehand so that your attitude isn't one of accusations or demands, and prepare a list of ways a leadership change will help your boss.
- Address your needs. While you want to point out how passivity negatively affects your boss, be sure to share how it also helps you do your job, meet deadlines or know what to expect.
- Nix the witch hunt. Even though you may want to gather your co-workers and confront your boss, that strategy will only put him or her on the defensive, aggravate the situation and harm any positive outcome you hope to achieve.
- Schedule a one-on-one meeting. Rather than approach your boss during a large meeting, schedule a solo meeting. If your boss is willing to be accountable, set up weekly or bi-weekly meetings that address ongoing concerns.
- Talk to the higher-ups. Sometimes, you need to take action and talk to your boss's boss. Take this step if your boss refuses to listen or cannot or won't make changes.
A passive boss affects the entire company. Address the issue with these tips as you make your workplace better for you, your co-workers and your customers.