What is worst than having a bad boss? A sabotaging boss. How to tell if your boss is sabotaging you. If you’re in a position where it feels like your boss is out to get you, it can be challenging to know how to react. Here are some signs your boss is sabotaging you:
To deliberately destroy or damage your work, your boss might do several things. It is essential to identify them and know how to deal with them.
16 Alarming Signs Your Boss Is Sabotaging You
How to tell if your boss is sabotaging you. Some of the apparent signs you are being sabotaged at work:
1. They Assign You All the Difficult or Impossible Tasks:
If it feels like you’re always getting the short end of the stick, it’s probably because you are.
Your boss may assign you all the complex tasks. Or they may give you lessons that no one else wants to do to make you look bad.
For instance, you might get to work on a project known to be unsuccessful. Or you may get tasks that are outside of your job description.
Alternatively, your boss may give you impossible tasks. They may set unrealistic deadlines or expectations.
Or they may give you too much work to complete in a day, week, or month.
If you’re getting the difficult or impossible tasks, it’s a sign your boss is sabotaging you.
2. Boss Constantly Critiques and Criticizes Your Work:
Your boss may constantly be critiquing and criticizing your work and boss sabotaging your career advancement. They may point out your mistakes, no matter how small.
Or they may criticize your work in front of others to humiliate you.
This is a way to make you feel incompetent. You might never feel like you’re doing a good job, no matter how hard you try.
Your boss may also give you negative feedback, even when you’ve done an excellent job.
This can make you question your abilities and feel like you’re never good enough.
Such unfair and unproductive criticism is a sign your boss is sabotaging you.
3. They Belittle or Make You Feel Stupid in Front of Others:
Belittling someone is a way to make them feel small and insignificant. Your boss may make sarcastic comments or jokes at your expense.
They may also make you feel stupid in front of others. For instance, they may ask you a question they know you can’t answer.
Or they may give you a task that is beyond your skill level. Making you feel stupid is a way to make you feel inferior.
It’s also a way to make you doubt yourself. It can cause you to question your decisions and second-guess yourself.
If your boss makes you feel stupid, it’s a sign they’re sabotaging you.
4. They Undermine Your Authority:
Undermining your authority is another way your boss can sabotage you. They may do this by questioning your decisions.
Or they may tell others that you’re not the expert on a specific topic. When you get to meetings, they may talk over you and ignore your input.
They may also give others assignments that should be yours. Not only does this make you look bad, but it also makes you feel powerless.
Undermining your authority is a way to make you feel like you’re not in control. It’s also a way to make you doubt your ability to lead.
You can never feel confident in your decisions when your boss is constantly undermining your authority.
5. They Shoot Down Your Ideas:
Your boss may shoot down your ideas, even if they’re good ones. They may do this in a meeting, in front of others.
Or they may do it one-on-one, in a private meeting. Either way, it’s a way to make you feel like your ideas don’t matter.
Although it’s normal for some ideas to not get acceptance, it’s not normal for all of them to be.
You might start to feel like you can’t contribute anything of value. This can cause you to think that your ideas are worthless.
But in reality, it’s just a sign that your boss sabotages you.
6. They Leave You Out of Meetings:
If you’re constantly being left out of meetings, it’s a sign your boss is sabotaging you.
You may be left out of important meetings where decisions are being made. Or you may be left out of meetings where they need your input.
When you’re left out of meetings, you don’t get the chance to contribute. No matter how good your ideas are, they won’t hear you.
Feeling devalued and unimportant, you may think your ideas don’t matter.
You may also feel like you’re not a valuable team member.
Being left out of meetings can make you feel isolated and alone. It’s also a way to make you doubt your value to the team.
7. Boss Micromanages You:
If your boss is constantly breathing down your neck, it’s a sign they’re micromanaging you.
They may be monitoring your every move, questioning your every decision.
They may also be giving you detailed instructions on how to do your job.
Such close supervision can be suffocating. It can make you feel like you’re not trusted to do your job.
It can also make you feel like you’re incapable of doing your job.
Micromanagement is a way to control you. And it is the root cause of several other sabotaging behaviors.
8. They Take Credit for Your Work:
Taking credit for your work is another way your boss can sabotage you.
They may do this by putting their name on your reports or presentations.
Or they may take credit for your ideas in meetings. Taking credit for your work is a way to make you feel unappreciated.
Nothing is more frustrating than working hard on something, only to have someone else take the credit.
It’s a way of taking advantage of you. And it’s a way of making you feel like your work doesn’t matter.
9. Boss Gives You Unreasonable Deadlines:
Giving unreasonable deadlines is not only ludicrous, but it’s also sabotaging.
It’s a way of putting pressure on you. And it’s a way of making you feel like you’re incapable of meeting the deadline.
Unreasonable deadlines are often a way to test you. Your boss may be pushing your limits to see how much pressure you can take.
Or they may be testing your ability to handle stress. Either way, it’s not a fair test. And it’s not a healthy way to work.
You can’t always control the deadlines you get. But you can control how you react to them.
10. They Set You Up to Fail:
Your boss may be setting you up to fail. They may do this by giving you impossible tasks.
Or they may give you too much work to do in too little time. They may also give you tasks outside your area of expertise.
Setting you up to fail is a way of making you look bad. It’s a way of making you feel incompetent.
If your report is late or you make a mistake, your boss can use it against you.
They can say that you’re not up to the job. They can say that you’re not cut out for the position. Or they may even use it as an excuse to fire you.
11. Your Boss Plays Favorites:
Your boss might be playing favorites. They may be giving certain employees preferential treatment.
These employees may get better assignments. They may get more flexible hours.
They may even get better pay. But you’re not one of the favorites.
You may feel like they are mistreating you. Or you may feel like your boss doesn’t value you as much as other employees.
You might not get the recognition you deserve. Likewise you might not get the opportunity to advance in your career.
All because your boss plays favorites. It can be a difficult situation to deal with. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
12. Your Boss Is Threatening:
Your boss may be threatening to fire you if you don’t do what they want. This is a way of making you feel powerless.
It’s a way of making you feel like you have to do what they say. Otherwise, you’ll lose your job.
It’s also a way of making you feel like you’re not valued. If your boss is threatening to fire you, it’s a sign that they don’t think you’re doing a good job.
It’s a sign that they don’t respect you. And it’s a sign that they don’t trust you.
13. Your Boss Is Yelling:
Your boss may be yelling at you. Bosses yell for many reasons.
They may be having a bad day. They may be under a lot of stress. Or they may be taking their frustration out on you.
Or they may be trying to intimidate you. Yelling is a way of making you feel small. It’s a way of making you feel like you’re not worth their time.
Even if your boss is having a bad day, it’s not an excuse for them to take it out on you.
14. Your Boss Is Controlling:
Controlling behavior is a form of sabotaging. Your boss may be trying to control your time.
They may tell you when to take breaks, when to leave work, and when to return.
They may be monitoring your phone calls, emails, and internet usage.
And, they may be trying to control how you dress, how you style your hair, and what you say.
Controlling behavior makes you feel like you’re not in control of your own life.
It’s a way of making you feel like you’re not an autonomous person.
15. Your Boss Is Gaslighting:
Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse. It’s a way of making you doubt your memories, thoughts, and feelings.
Your boss may be telling you that you’re wrong about what happened. They may be telling you that you’re forgetful and imagining things.
Gaslighting is a way of making you feel like you’re not in control of your mind.
It’s a way of making you feel like you’re going crazy. If your boss is gaslighting you, everything is your fault.
Everything is always in your head. And you can never trust yourself.
16. Your Boss Is Isolating You:
Your boss may be isolating you from other employees. They may be excluding you from meetings and social events.
They may be making it difficult for you to do your job. Isolating you is a way of making you feel alone.
It’s a way of making you feel like you’re not a part of the team. This behavior can be challenging to deal with.
If your boss isolates you, reaching out to other employees is essential. Talk to them about what’s happening.
Get their support. And if necessary, talk to human resources.
Conclusion:
If your boss sabotages you, it’s a sign that they don’t respect you. It’s a sign that they don’t trust you.
And it’s a sign that they don’t think you’re doing a good job. If your boss is mistreating, you must reach out to Human Resources.
And if necessary, talk to a lawyer. You have rights. And you don’t have to put up with this behavior.
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