5 Ways to Handle a Hot Headed Manager

While Hollywood may put a comedic spin on the challenges of working for difficult employers with movies such as Horrible Bosses, the situation isn’t as humorous when it’s your daily reality. It seems some managers are still stuck in the toddler years, angering easily and sulking when not getting their way.
Being employed by an unreasonable manager can cause immense stress and suck the fun out of working in an otherwise enjoyable career. If you work for an impossible employer but love your career path, you likely feel trapped in a Catch-22 type situation. As such, here are a few ways to successfully handle your hot headed manager or seek other options so you can continue working in a career field you enjoy.

·    Adopt the other viewpoint – While you may assume your boss is being unreasonable in certain situations, your first action should be to adopt the other viewpoint. At times, when employees view issues from their manager’s perspective, they begin to understand more clearly why the boss is quick to anger on certain subjects. At the very least, adopting the other’s viewpoint can further assert your correctness in the situation.

·    Change the subject – A cooling period can often serve everyone’s interests in hot heated situations. If a certain meeting topic sets your manager into a rampage, lightly change the subject until things cool down. This will avoid unnecessary comments and may give the manager a chance to see things a little more clearly.

·    Take the high road – If your manager insists on acting like a child, don’t get dragged to that level. Rather, remain calm and professional despite the employer’s outbursts. Meeting fire with fire will never put out the flames. Additionally, if the issues escalate into serious repercussions, your hands will be clean of any wrong doing.

·    Consult upper management – A manager’s outbursts should never, ever cross the line. If you feel threatened or are no longer able to perform your job duties due to the situation, consult upper management. Some managers continue to act unreasonably because they’ve never been punished for their actions. By standing up for yourself, you’ll show the manager that what’s being done is unacceptable and workplace changes are needed.

·    Head for the hills – If no tactics including consulting upper management change the situation – quit. No job is worth the stress of dealing with an exceptionally unreasonable manager. You can find comparable employment elsewhere and, even if it’s at a lower rate, the pay reduction will likely be very worth transitioning to a peaceful work environment. However, before leaving the job, voice your concerns to upper management in a professional manner. Address all grievances and the patterns of abuse to ensure all know why you’ve chosen to leave.  

Many employees suffer in silence under the threats of hot headed managers. However, we’re no longer living in the dark ages. If you’ve suffered as a professional, hard-working employee under the hand of hot headed manager for too long, you must assert your rights and take control of the situation. While this workplace environment can seem unmanageable, it’ll offer a great perspective if you someday accept a management position.

Author Bio: Shayla Ebsen is a full-time freelance writer and graphic designer with more than seven years combined experience from her time in the corporate world and through her freelance work. Shayla’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in News/Editorial Journalism from South Dakota State University and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Organizational Communication from the University of South Dakota. Learn more about Shayla and her services at shaylaebsen.com.