Every once in a while, we get stuck in a rut and end up with jobs that don't make us happy.
If a job makes you feel discontent, it's probably not right for you. But you can never know for sure unless you try to make it work.
If you spend a lot of time thinking, “I want to quit my job so bad” or “I hate my job”, this blog is for you.
Read on to discover the different aspects of a bad job and how to deal with each of them.
Let's get started!
How to deal with a bad boss?
Dealing with a bad boss can never be easy, no matter how hard you try.
It can make your life look like a scene right out of Horrible Bosses, making you choose between quitting the job and being miserable.
We understand your situation, and so here are some suggestions to help you deal with a bad boss.
Be sure of your judgement about your boss
Sometimes, we perceive people the way we want to and end up with a perception far from reality.
So, before you try to fix the situation, assess if your boss is a difficult person, or is it just in your head based on their strict and stern behavior.
Let’s understand this with a quiz.
Rate your boss on a scale of 1-10, 1 meaning that they are not that bad, and 10 meaning that you need to run in any direction away from your boss.
The right answer to all these questions is a big NO! But let’s score this the other way round.
Count 1 every time you get a “yes”, and you will have your answer.
Answer with a Yes/No:
- Does your boss trouble you beyond professional situations?
- Do they micromanage all your activities?
- Does your boss pass personal comments?
- Are they partial towards selective employees?
- Does your boss never accept mistakes?
- Does your boss lie or overpromise?
- Do you only get feedback when you do something wrong?
- Are you always asked to work on your day off?
- Are your ideas discarded without consideration?
- Do you have difficulty talking to your boss?
Address your problems with your manager
Talking to a bad boss seems like a nightmare, let alone telling them about your concerns.
But this is one of the most simple, yet effective ways to get your problems resolved.
If your boss is being difficult unintentionally, being vocal about your problems may work as feedback, making your life a cakewalk.
List all the issues you are facing, and request a one-on-one meetup with for further discussion.
Don’t miss deadlines
One of the ways to avoid facing the wrath of a bad boss, is to stay ahead with your work.
Not only will this help you stay organized, but it will also leave little room for any complaints.
Also, this will reflect that you have a sense of responsibility and know-how of the work to be done, which may even help curb the micromanagement.
On the contrary, the pending workload may become a reason for your manager to act out, increasing your chances to deal with them at their worst.
Maintain all your conversation on email
If you have a toxic boss who refuses to give you credit, steals the limelight, and makes your life difficult, then you need to be extra careful.
One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received is to have all conversations on record in emails.
Emails are an official agreement between the sender and the recipient, and in most offices, it is the seal of approval.
Having everything in an email will save you from becoming a victim of blame-shifting, and may even help you in situations where your team or boss refuse to take responsibility for the sinking ship.
How to overcome shortcomings in your role/ How to deal with a bad job?
Accepting a role without thoroughly researching the company often backfires, and can disrupt your work experience.
If you think you are dealing with a bad job, or have bad work load on your plate, this is what you can do.
Reach out to your manager for additional responsibilities
It is perfectly normal to feel complacent when you have been doing the same job for too long or find it beneath your expertise.
Your best bet in this scenario is to ask your boss for additional responsibilities.
Doing so will reflect your intention to take initiative and will help you grow beyond the limitations of your position.
Join courses to upskill
Upskilling is the new cool when it comes to finding job satisfaction , and we are not bluffing!
Learning more about the industry will help you widen horizons and prepare you for newer, more difficult challenges and better opportunities to avoid dealing with bad work in future.
Upskilling has never been easier than today, with websites like Udemy , Unacademy, and many more that offer online courses in all fields at economic, pocket-friendly prices.
So, if you are not satisfied with your role in the current company, take up additional courses and start applying to job openings.
Reach out to seniors in the industry to learn more
Asking for help can go a long way, especially when done right.
If you feel you have the potential for better things but don’t know how to make use of it in your current role, try reaching out to seniors in the industry seeking mentorship.
Connect with people who know all about your field and whose advice you can trust.
If you do not know anyone personally, you can read success stories of people in your field, or connect with pioneers, requesting them to mentor you.
Take up freelance projects to explore new avenues
If upskilling or taking mentorship does not seem like a good idea, don’t worry!
To make up for the dissatisfaction at work, you can take up some freelance projects in your field.
It will add to your work experience and give you something worth doing, helping you deal with a not-so-satisfactory role.
You can use websites like Truelancer, Freelancer, Upwork, etc to find a happening project for yourself.
Outline your work in a diary
Nothing gives more satisfaction than looking at your achievements, especially when you find your position insignificant.
So, record everything you do and learn in a diary and highlight the goals that were difficult to achieve, but you did anyway.
Assess your work and make notes on what and how you could have done things better for future references.
Doing this will add perspective to your work and will help you get the satisfaction that you find missing in your job.
Set a deadline
If doing all of the above does not help you, and you still feel miserable about dealing with a bad job, then pick a date to end it.
Set a timeline about how long you want to stay at your current job and use it as a countdown to motivate yourself.
By the end of this countdown, you would either have left the job that gives you no satisfaction or realized this is where you want to stay. Either way, it is a win-win situation.
How to deal with a hostile team?
There is no I in the team!
If you feel that your team is an exception to this, you need to learn how to work with people who don't believe in team spirit, creating a potentially hostile work environment.
Here are the 5 things that can help you out:
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil
Lack of positive communication is a key problem area in every team that doesn’t get along well.
To add to this, talking about your teammates, especially talking ill about them (no matter how legit the complaint) will most likely backfire.
So when at work, follow the simple rule of Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.
When you choose to hear no evil, you block out the negativity and save yourself from getting into problematic situations.
When you choose to speak no evil, you ensure that no gossip initiates from you, avoiding the possibility of team conflict.
When you choose to see no evil, you take a stand for the right and react against the wrong, which will eventually get you to the good side of things.
Try to get along with your team
Working on your own can get very lonely, and it is almost impossible to get stuff done without team support.
Getting along with a hostile team is no piece of cake, but I guess you have to try and try until you succeed.
Here is what you can do to build a healthy team rapport:
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Observe your teammates start conversations with those who like to talk, and later take it to those who don't.
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Ask for help when you are stuck. It doesn’t make you weak and works as a chance at team bonding.
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Get to know by discussing non-work-related things like interests, hobbies, etc.
Take it upon yourself to resolve conflicts
Team conflicts can be painful, but they are inevitable and are bound to happen once in a blue moon with everyone.
If you ever find yourself in a conflict with someone from work, take the first step for good to change your relationship dynamics.
To begin with, give up on the grudges and initiate conflict resolution on your own. If matters seem to get worse, include a mediator to help you out.
Keep your mind clear during the process, and if you seem to be at fault, don’t shy away from apologizing.
Show gratitude towards colleagues
Even though saying “Thank you” and “Sorry” is normal, make sure you use them when needed with your colleagues.
Showing gratitude or accepting mistakes helps build team rapport and reflects your self-awareness to your team, making it easier for them to talk to you.
In the end, don’t forget to relax! Having a bad job, or bad work is difficult, but hating it without trying to make things better will only make it worse.
So take it upon yourself to find the answer to "how to deal with a bad job" with these suggestions.
All the best!
