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In my career life, I have had several bad bosses. I thought I had experienced nasty, until we got a new female boss recently. Since Madam Smith arrived a few months ago, our peaceful, family oriented NGO has become unbearable for many workers. Madam Smith, a white lady from the UK, has taken unpleasant to new levels.
She is loud, obnoxious, impatient and angry, you name it... Smith is in her early 40s, born and bred in the UK, Harvard-schooled, single no-nonsense feminist who is also a perfectionist. Boss Lady is so out of touch with reality of life in Africa, it is a struggle explaining to her some basics.
For instance, if your child is sick and you need a day off, you would rather tell her your dog is unwell and needs to go to the vet because she can relate. But harsh and heartless as she is, I have developed some coping mechanisms and I am so at peace, my colleagues always wonder “How do you get along with that witch?” For the benefit of all of us, I will share my secrets:
Do exceptional work: If there is one thing many nasty bosses cannot stand it is mediocrity. Many employees are comfortable just giving average work and this irks perfectionists like Madam Smith. To be in her good books, demonstrate excellence in all you do. If I am given a report to write, I do my research like my kidneys depend on it and I come up with a first-class document. I always strive to go over and above her expectations. This way, she will have no reason to pick up a quarrel with you.
Be polite but firm when expressing your views/concerns: Never show your boss that you fear and are intimidated by them. When you have reservations about something, be bold enough to raise your concerns. The trick is when you are addressing him/her, be firm but respectful. Always demonstrate a positive and winning attitude when she makes her demands. But when the demands become outrageous, be bold enough to express your reservations.
Win her over with acts of kindness: “Why do you always take coffee to her yet she knows where the dispenser is?” My colleagues always ask me whenever they spot me doing my thing. They may label me all sorts of demeaning names, but at the end of the day, I have won her favour. Acts of kindness have the power to melt hearts as cold as stone. Try it and see her warm up to you.
Do not gossip her or back bite her with colleagues: In an office setting, the general tendency is that if you have a nasty boss, she becomes the object of gossip every time colleagues gather like for lunch and tea break. Rise above such petty talk and steer away from such useless banter. Finally, always pray for her. It sounds too spiritual, but it always works. It may be the ticket to send her back to her UK roots.
The writer is a married working mother of a toddler boy and a pre-school girl. She shares her experience of juggling between career, family and social life.
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