How to Work with an Insecure Boss: The Harvard Business Review Guide

24 Mar 2022

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Of all the bad bosses out there, one of the most common–and most painful to work for–is the one who’s plagued by doubt. Here’s how to deal with them. 00:00 If you’ve ever doubted yourself because your boss doesn’t have faith in you, shoots down your ideas without explanation, or blames you for their lack of success, this video is for you. 00:34 How do you know if you’re dealing with an insecure boss? 01:05 Don’t try to retaliate! You’ll only make things worse. 01:30 A little self-doubt is normal, but here’s where it crosses the line. 02:41 Tactic 1: Remain patient. 03:25 Tactic 2: Frame your work as a joint effort. 04:05 Tactic 3: Signal that you’re not a threat. 04:45 Tactic 4: Flattery works–as long as it’s genuine. 05:25 Tactic 5: Restore their sense of control. 06:40 Realize though: You’re not going to change them. 07:00 Let’s recap! The tips in this Harvard Business Review Guide come from Amy Gallo’s book, “Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)”, available here: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Along-Anyone-Difficult-People/dp/1647821061/ SEE ALSO: Managing 3 Types of Bad Bosses: https://hbr.org/2014/12/managing-3-types-of-bad-bosses What to Do When You Have a Bad Boss: https://hbr.org/2018/09/what-to-do-when-you-have-a-bad-boss Produced by Amy Gallo and Scott LaPierre Video by Andy Robinson Design by Riko Cribbs, Alex Belser, and Karen Player Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #BadBoss #Insecurity Copyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved.

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