Earlier this month, I wrote about the characteristics of an insecure manager. Unfortunately, many employees are faced with an insecure manager at some point in their work life and it is difficult to know what to do.
In this post, I provide tips on what you can do to protect yourself and your career if you are faced with an insecure manager.
- Because these people suffer from low self-esteem and you are seen as a threat, do whatever you reasonably can to boost their ego. Yes, this includes praising them when you can, although it is hard to do. However, don’t overdo it, otherwise you will come across as insincere.
- Do not challenge his/her authority directly.
- Do everything you can to reassure him/her that he/she is the boss and that you understand your place in the hierarchy.
- If he/she does something well, acknowledge it publicly – insecure people crave recognition from others.
- Stay out of the limelight as much as you can. With an insecure manager, there can only be one star on the stage.
- Respond thoughtfully to his/her criticisms – don’t react.
- Pick your battles carefully; don’t sacrifice yourself on every hill.
- Because the insecure manager is threatened by your skills and views you as a competitor, he/she will do everything possible to create negative perceptions about you. To address this, you need to build allies in the organization and you need to ensure that other people in the organization know your capabilities.
- Seek advice from a person who is higher up in the organization that you can trust. That person is likely to have a better understanding of the situation and of your manager and may be able to help you.
If, after taking the actions outlined above, you still find that the situation is unbearable, it is time to cut the cord and to find another job before you suffer a complete breakdown.
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