Bad boss at work? This is how advance your career despite having a bad boss

 There's a reason why the 'bad boss' problem is so insidious

Almost 50 per cent of employees in the workplace say they have bad bosses On average, employees spend 13 hours during the workweek worrying about what a boss says or does Managers account for at least 70 per cent of an employee's engagement

Are you one of those people who look forward to going in to work on Monday?

You love working with your boss because s/he is supportive, and they give you the necessary autonomy, resources and support to perform effectively at your role.

You're one of the lucky ones.

According to research, almost 50 per cent of employees in the workplace say they have bad bosses.

There's a reason why the 'bad boss' problem is so insidious - it does not just affect your life while you are at work.

A survey done by Lynn Taylor, author of the Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant showed that on average, employees spend 13 hours during the workweek worrying about what a boss says or does.

 If you're among the 50 per cent who experience Sunday evening blues, it's likely you make up the number that spends an additional 6.2 hours over the weekend stressing over your boss.

Are office tyrants just a fact of life - one of those things that we should all just learn how to live with?

In 2013, health providers reported that close to 75 per cent of employees experienced physical symptoms related to stress, including heart problems.

The end result? These perennially stressed employees cost twice as much in healthcare costs. Additionally, a Gallup poll said that managers account for at least 70 per cent of an employee's engagement.

Of those respondents who said they have a bad boss, 43 per cent said they quit because of a bad manager while 59 per cent would have stayed if they had the chance to report to someone else.

All shapes and sizes

Bad bosses come in all shapes and sizes. It's important though, to say that bad bosses are not necessarily bad people.

Organisations tend to promote people who excel in a role, but they may not be equipped to be a leader. Without the proper coaching and guidance, they never grow into good team heads or role models.

A previously good boss could change if the organisation is in flux such as during times of restructuring, reorganisation, layoffs etc. If there are other dynamics at play, keep this in mind when choosing how to respond.

Changing how your boss leads and manages is an uphill task. There are not enough hours in a day to both excel at your job and train your boss to lead. However, you can and should change how you respond to them in order to reduce your stress levels. To do this, it is important to understand the types of bad bosses.

The Bestie

Having a boss who wants to be everyone's best friend may seem like a good thing. They want to be loved and for their teams to hang out with them, in and out of the office.

The upside is that if you develop a good relationship, it makes the other challenges in the office easier to deal with. But if they also have the tendency to play favourites, it may impact on you if you fall out of favour with them. Get used to setting boundaries from the onset.

If you are uncomfortable about hanging out outside the workplace, then don't start then stop. Be clear too about the fact that you want feedback about your work, regardless of your friendship.

The bully

You're dealing with a bully if you often feel attacked in meetings and now allowed an objective hearing when something goes wrong.

 You are privately or publicly threatened or humiliated. The obvious response might be to fight, shout or bully back.

But given the seniority dynamic, it may backfire on you. How do you stand up for yourself? Calmly and reasonably explain yourself and your position.

Assess the situation and make a call about whether to do this in public or later in private, when the situation has calmed down. But be firm and don't allow them to make you doubt yourself or your abilities.

The micromanager

You have proved yourself a worthy employee and you are good at your role. But someone comes along, constantly hovering over you and wants to know every little detail.

 The bottom line with this kind of boss - they want to be kept in the loop. Take charge of building the trust that will allow this relationship to turn productive.

 Agree on exactly when and how often you will check in and give updates. Above all, do not miss these commitments.

The sab

Saboteurs steal your credit, undermine your efforts and blame you publicly and privately when things go wrong.

This is a hard one to deal with because they will wear you down over long periods of time. The key to managing them is by making them look good in front of other people.

Also, make sure you have a paper or email trail of everything so that if a situation goes bad, you have proof to defend yourself.