How To Deal With An Idiot Boss In 8 Wise Ways

Written By Shahzaib Arshad

Is your boss an idiot? It is humorous yet needs your serious action. So let us tell you how to deal with an idiot boss.

An idiot boss is a rare and unfortunate creature. But, now and then, we all meet one. An idiot boss will make you insane. Therefore, we will work on keeping you sane below and let you know how to deal with idiots at work.

How To Deal With An Idiot Boss In 7 Wise Ways

The first thing you have to remember is that not all bosses are equal. Some are great, some are good, and some are idiots. So if you have an idiot boss, don’t panic.

There are many ways to deal with an idiot boss. For example, you can accept that they’re an idiot and try to be patient.

You can think about their behavior as a learning opportunity to improve your skills. Or you could look for a different job.

However, if you decide to stay in the same job and you want to know about how to work for an idiot, there are a few things you should do:

1. Do Not Take It Personally:

The first and most important thing to do if you’re dealing with an idiot boss is not to take it personally. Idiot bosses are not the same as incompetent bosses.

How To Deal With An Idiot Boss

Please don’t be angry when they make unreasonable requests or criticize you. They’re people who have a different way of doing things. It might be due to their own experience or ideology.

To deal with such a boss, it’s essential to stop taking their behavior personally.

2. How To Deal With An Idiot Boss- Set Boundaries:

Some people find that setting boundaries is an effective way of dealing with an idiot boss. You can do this by being clear about what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.

You should set clear expectations for what you will and won’t tolerate in the workplace. Moreover, do not try to tell them that they are an idiot.

Try to avoid dealing with their idiocy by setting boundaries.

3. Have Less Contact With Such Boss:

Such bosses are not born idiots. In short, their lack of intelligence can cause them to do idiotic things. We understand that they annoy or frustrate you.

Another approach that some people find helpful is avoiding the problem altogether. You can prevent your idiot boss by spending as little time as possible with him.

It will depend on your work situation and relationship with your boss. However, you can do so in any case by always indulging in your work. Do not sit idle in front of your boss. 

And when he proposes an idea, start working on it without saying something back.

4. How To Deal With An Idiot Boss- Don’t Let Them Make Decisions For You:

Try not to let them make decisions for you. Moreover, if they’re going in the wrong direction, don’t get on board.

Focus on your department. You can’t change them, but you can change the part of their organization that they don’t handle well. 

handle work

Most bosses are good people who focus on the needs of their employees. However, they can show up in the office with a sense of self-importance and stupidity.

It is why it’s essential to earn their respect. In this way, you can discourage them from making decisions for you in the future.

5. Do Not Act Harshly:

Idiocy is a subjective term. What may seem like idiocy to one person may be the norm.

It is essential to be aware of one’s own biases before judging someone else’s intelligence.

Such bosses can’t see how their behavior affects others. Therefore, it’s difficult for them to change their ways.

However, it is not your responsibility as an employee to force them into changing their ways. It would help if you didn’t act harshly towards them either.

It would help if you never act on an impulse when dealing with an idiot boss, as it might get you in trouble. It’s always better to keep a cool head, think things through, and avoid rash decisions.

If you can do this, you will cut the damage their behavior can cause.

6. How To Deal With An Idiot Boss – Have Constructive Criticism:

If you need to confront them, make sure your criticism is constructive. Point out specific things they could do and offer solutions.

It will show that you’re not trying to criticize them for the sake of it. However, it will show that you care about your boss’s productivity and the company.

Your criticism shouldn’t be harsh, though, because it will do more damage than good then. Your boss will hate you for it. They can create problems for you in the future.

Be careful when proposing positive criticism to your boss.

7. Talk To Your Boss And Find A Solution:

There are many different reasons why an employee may not want to talk to their boss. The employee may fear the outcome. 

talk to boss

Moreover, they feel like it’s their fault, and they don’t want to cause a conflict.

However, speaking with your boss is the best way to fix the problem. You can talk about how their actions impact you and the company.

In the end, you both see if you can come up with a solution together.

The worst possible outcome of speaking with your boss would be that nothing changes. If this happens, you need to remember that you tried your best.

8. Make Them Feel Good About Themselves:

If your idiot boss thinks they are more intelligent than you, they may accept your input. You can do so by positive remarks about their work and ideas. 

However, if their ideas are worthless, then manipulate their ideas. Yes, we know it is difficult to manipulate your boss. But managing an idiot boss shouldn’t be much of a problem.

You can restructure their idea into a fruitful one and let them know they created it. Consequently, your work will bear good results, and you will deal with an idiot boss.

5 Characteristics Of Idiot Bosses

An idiot boss is someone who can’t understand something evident to everyone else.

They have no interest in learning from others and do not care what their subordinates think.

Now how to recognize an idiot boss when you face one? We will share most things that an idiot boss does so you can remember him and take action. 

Here are five characteristics of idiot bosses:

1. They Are Incompetent:

An idiot boss is an incompetent boss. They can qualify for a position but cannot do the task well. 

incompetent boss

Incompetent bosses look to bark orders rather than provide direction. It often leaves their employees unsure of what the bosses want from them. 

2. They Micromanage:

Such bosses are also big on micro-managing and being controlling. Also, they will micromanage everything that their employees do.

As a result, they demotivate their employees. Moreover, they lose trust in the company’s management team.

3. They Propose Ineffective Ideas:

Many bosses have a lot of ideas, but some of them are not effective. They think that because they have an idea, it will work. However, this is not always the case.

Bosses who propose ineffective ideas find their employees less productive and efficient. It can lead to tension in the workplace and lead to people quitting or termination.

A boss who proposes ineffective ideas will give a chance to grow within the company’s culture. Consequently, it can have long-term consequences.

4. They Do Not Qualify For The Job:

Such bosses are not able to manage technical teams under them. Their inability to propose effective project management leads to more significant problems. 

deal with an idiot boss

Such bosses usually have worked their way up to the top by kissing ass. In reality, they have no idea how to run a business or manage employees.

They’re doing it because they like the power. Moreover, their only goal is to keep their position within the company.

5. They Do Not Care For Their Employees:

Bosses who can’t manage their employees struggle to form emotional bonds. It is a direct result of their emotional inabilities.

Such bosses don’t care about their employees and are plain sociopathic. They lack any empathy. Therefore, they do not know how to handle the team.

Apathetic bosses don’t care about their employees’ health and well-being. Moreover, they do not care about their career development.

There are bosses in every industry who fit this description, but they are in the minority.

Conclusion:

It is challenging to deal with an idiot boss. However, they are rare. You can take up many actions to keep yourself from getting insane. 

Firstly, do not take your idiot bosses’ words personally. Secondly, let him know the boundaries of what you will tolerate and what not.

Thirdly, try to avoid them as much as possible. You can do this by not sitting idle in your boss’s presence. Fourthly, it would help if you did not act harshly with them.

In conclusion, you should let your idiot boss know how his actions affect the company. And consequently, you both can work on solutions.

There are many things that idiot bosses do. It is good to recognize them and take action asap.

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Shahzaib Arshad
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