5 Common Issues with Toxic Leaders and how to resolve them!

I really cannot stand my boss anymore!!

At work, sometimes we have unavoidable issues with superiors we work with. Often, these issues are hard to deal with because it involves confrontation and dealing with hierarchy. 

However, if you resolve them well can lead to a better workplace experience and show that you can manage expectations well! Here are five common problems and let's start!

1) Unrealistic expectations

2) Taking leave

3) Unfair working conditions

4) Harassments

5) Unreceptive to ideas

1) Unrealistic expectations

Your superiors may not always understand your situation. Sometimes they care more about their targets for the company, or perhaps, their bosses set unrealistic expectations on them and are just passing on the stress to you. 

If you are experiencing this, you should:

- Never flatly criticise them. Avoid words such as unrealistic, unreasonable, or impossible. This will only make you seem like someone who is against them rather than on the same team.

- Try to understand them. Rephrasing them and asking if it is accurate. This will make you appear empathetic and serve as an excellent start to negotiate.

- Explain your situation. Tell them, while you do want to live up to their expectations, you cannot, due to certain reasons. This will serve as good opening to a discussion that benefits both sides. However, your explanations need to be logical.

2) Taking leave

You feel guilty asking for leave because you have had bad experiences doing so before; maybe your boss turned down your request. You feel lousy handing over your work to someone, or you do not like being away from work for long.

If you are experiencing this, you should:

- Prepare in advance as much as possible. Tell your boss as soon as you have vacation plans. Do not leave any urgent work undone. If you do shift work, try to arrange for a replacement. Try not to request it at peak period.

- Explain your circumstances. This is important for last-minute situations. Do you have to take care of someone who is ill? Make sure you tell your boss that.

- Do not feel guilty. Your personal life and circumstances are important as well.

3) Unfair working conditions

This is usually applicable to you if you are a freelancer - your rights are not usually protected by companies you are working for, as compared to full-time employees.

If you are experiencing this, you should:

- Get in touch with like-minded communities online – find them on Facebook, Twitter or any platform that works. You can find useful tips and knowledge on your rights as a freelancer and the relevant industrial practices.

- Stand up for your rights. Once you know what you are entitled to, do not be afraid to negotiate and clarify your expectations before starting on projects.

- Do not be afraid to say no. In the end, if companies refuse to treat you fairly, do not be afraid to walk away. Not only will you save yourself from unnecessary stress, but you will also set higher standards for your other fellow freelancers.

4) Harassments

This would usually apply to you if you are working in a customer service-related field. You may be experiencing some form of harassment from patients that you are caring for.

If you are experiencing this, you should:

- Never handle it by yourself. You may be in a state of shock or anger and are not in a good mental state to access to the situation and respond well.

- Bring it up to your superiors. Not only can they offer you emotional support, but they also have more capacity to provide you with useful advice. They may even assign you another more equipped colleague to handle that patient.

- Give yourself time to process it. How can you better protect yourself next time? What have you learned, and how you should have a proper closure to this event.

5) Unreceptive to ideas

You have this fantastic idea, but you present it wrongly. Your superiors dismissed it quickly even though you spent a lot of time working on it.

If you are experiencing this, you should:

- Make sure that the idea is impressive. Everyone can be a little too proud of their work sometimes. Hence, think and consider thoroughly before submission.

- Look out for what your superiors want. Maybe it is a good idea, but they want something different, and you do not understand that.

- Change the way you sell your idea. Maybe your superior did not like the way you put across your idea. Put yourself in your superior’s shoes. What aspects of the idea would appeal most to them?

- Ensure your superiors understood. When your superior replies you with answers that are not aligned, you may consider giving them scenarios and better understand the situation.