When the boss doesn’t communicate

When the boss doesn’t communicate

At some point in your professional life, you will work with a boss who is bad at communication. The absence of feedback from your superior, let alone friendly banter, can have a serious impact on your morale. Here are some tips to deal with such situations. Ignore idiosyncrasies When you join a new workplace, or if the boss is new to the team, it’s natural to want to get going on a positive note. But it’s unreasonable to expect the boss to behave the way you do. For instance, the boss is not snubbing you if he ignores your Facebook friend request. He may simply be more reserved in his communication. It takes time for two people to get to know each other. Your boss is no different. Focus on work It’s great if the boss sits you down and discusses your role in the team and sets expectations. However, not everyone will take this approach. Instead of waiting for the boss to tell you what to do, get going with the work as best you can. Keep your ears open for comments, both positive and negative, from your boss. Instead of worrying about getting a positive comment or a few encouraging words from the boss, concentrate on understanding what he considers a job well done. Don’t expect praise Not all bosses are effusive in praising the work of their subordinates. Instead, the only time they talk to you about your work is when they see you have fallen short in some way. This is not the best position to be in. On the bright side, silence from his end means you have done a good job. Take it as a compliment. Talk to co-workers Talk to co-workers you trust about their experiences with the boss. Don’t make it sound like you are fishing for negative traits about the boss. You can lead with informal questions such as, “How did your presentation with the boss go?” If your co-worker too starts complaining, don’t jump in with your woes. The idea is not to start a ‘Let’s hate the boss’ club. It is to get a better understanding of the boss, which will equip you to deal with him in a better way. Talk to a friend who knows you well and can point out if you are overreacting. Talk to the boss You have a genuine problem when the work (as opposed to your mood) gets affected by the lack of communication. For instance, if the boss isn’t clear about the roles of each team member, you and your co-workers may end up doing the same job twice, leading to confusion. If this happens consistently, it is time to initiate the conversation. Keep in mind that you want the boss to change to the extent that it stops affecting your work. With such an approach, there is a better chance that the discussion will be about professional issues without getting too personal.