Source: This article was originally published on CNBC.
Written by: Marguerite Ward, CNBC Make It
If you think your boss is inept, you’re certainly not alone.
Some 50 percent of American workers say they’ve actually left a job because of a bad manager, according to Gallup research. But before you head for the door and leave behind everything you’ve accomplished, best-selling management author Suzy Welch says to consider whether there’s anything you can do to improve the situation.
“What can you do if you’re stuck with a boss you think is incompetent? Sometimes you’ve gotta go,” Welch tells CNBC Make It. “But before you do, consider these four possibilities.”
Here are four mental shifts that can ease the tension between you and a boss you don’t like:
1. Ask yourself if it’s you, not them
“Entertain the notion that you’re a bit of a boss-hater,” Welch says. “You know — the kind of person who resists, doubts or dislikes anyone in authority.”
Maybe your boss has picked up on how you feel about them and is frustrated with your attitude. As Welch has previously noted, “boss haters work against the group’s best interests, and management will notice.”
If that’s the case, she says, “ease up a bit.”
2. Consider that your boss may have talents you’re not aware of
You may only see your boss’s shortcomings, but they may have important skills that you don’t know about.
“Some managers might not present as particularly brilliant,” Welch says, “but they’re great at bringing in the best talent, or they know how to work the system.”
If your boss is an asset to the company, it’s possible they can do great things for you and your career — provided you give them a chance. Realizing that might change your perspective.
3. Put yourself in their shoes
Managers are often told to “hire people smarter than you,” Welch explains. The best leaders pinpoint candidates who have sharper skills or fresher ideas than they do.
“Imagine,” Welch says, “the courage and humility it took for your boss to go there with you.”
In addition, your manager likely has a variety of responsibilities and tasks that may be stressing them out. The behavior you see and dislike isn’t necessarily related to you.
Considering your boss’s point of view could help you see the situation more clearly.
4. Wait it out
“Trust me,” says Welch. “If your boss is a fool, it will eventually make itself known.”
If you truly feel unsafe, speak up. Otherwise, you might want to consider trying to deal with having a rude or incompetent boss until those higher up in the company take notice and take action.
“Until that time comes,” she says, “stay sharp by being your own boss.”
Don’t immediately complain to HR, Welch says. Look inward to make sure it’s not you, take steps to try to improve the relationship and work on becoming more mentally strong.
“If you think about crying about the annoyance or injustice of a ‘moron boss,'” Welch says, “proceed with extreme caution.”
You don’t want to risk looking unprofessional or petty. Instead, just focus on what you can achieve on your own.
“Set your own work goals,” she says, “and exceed them.”
Suzy Welch is the co-founder of the Jack Welch Management Institute and a noted business journalist, TV commentator, and public speaker. Through its online MBA program, the Jack Welch Management Institute transforms the lives of its students by providing them with the tools to become better leaders, build great teams, and help their organizations win.