how to deal with a nice boss – pay scale.com

Happy Monday! How to deal with a nice boss? Duh…be thankful and pray s/he never changes! I’ve had all kinds of bosses, good ones, not so good ones, nice ones, short ones, tall ones…And like most people, what I seem to remember is the not-so-good-experiences with the not-so-good ones. After all, don’t we all tend to remember bad times more than we do good ones?

According to a 2013 survey by the Workforce Institute at Kronos, 75% of employees said they’d rather have an effective and high-performing boss over a nice one! So much for praying for a nice boss when your current one adds yet another project to your already overwhelming schedule…Yes, really, it’s a problem when your boss is not nice at all (not to use other more suggestive terms), and it’s a problem when your boss is too nice. Except it’s easier to identify and target potential problems with a not-so-nice boss (among others how to make them nicer), than with a sweeter, less demanding manager. And since as women professionals and corporate sisters, many of us do not necessarily possess the innate ability or opportunity to challenge the status quo, this can literally turn into a career-killer. So what is one to do to reverse the apathetic tendency that sets in with a nice manager who may knowingly (or unknowingly) under-manage and reduce your chances at career success:

1. Take Ownership Of your Career! Unfortunately, most “nice” managers are not the best at challenging the status quo. They may not also be the best at providing the tough feedback, challenging opportunities or lateral assignments that will make you noticed and advance your career. While you may be able to rely on a tougher boss for honest, no-nonsense feedback and motivation, here you may have to take ownership of your career and success! Request more feedback from your boss, start asking questions, look into opportunities around you, observe the politics and dynamics and begin charting your own path!

2. Enlarge your network! Success is built through connections, so start enlarging your professional network. Discuss upcoming opportunities with other managers, find common ground with related departments and groups, join common interest groups and associations at work. You never know where the next opportunity may come from, but you can get ready for it…

3. Make a move! If all else fails and you can sense your career dipping down the wrong end, it may be time to make a move! Whether you choose to move laterally or take an entirely new position outside of the company, getting away from the negative clout of a “too nice” manager may sometimes be the only career-saving move to make! Don’t fear looking ungrateful or taking too big of a risk, your career will thank you later!

Is your boss too nice?

The Corporate Sis