Do You Have a Pointy Hair Boss?

Posted by Jerry Lopper Jul 21, 2007

The comic strip, Dilbert, shows us bosses at their worst. What makes Dilbert so funny is that we can see our bosses and our co-workers in many of the comically depicted cartoons.

The Gallup semiannual employee engagement index of 2005 indicated that only 3 of 10 of workers are highly committed, industrious, and passionate about what they do (The Orange County Register, July, 2007).

Seventy percent of workers aren't contributing their best effort!

One contributor to poor morale and motivation is the boss. Not the only contributor, by any means. We each are responsible for our choices, whether to be productive, cooperative, and helpful, or disruptive and marginally involved.

But if you have a real-life boss reminiscent of Dilbert's pointy hair boss, you know that being a productive, contributing employee can be an experience in continuous frustration.

What can you do? As in all situations, you have three choices:

• Fully Accept the Situation,
• Work to Change the Situation, or
• Separate Yourself From It.

Many people choose the latter, but only separate themselves mentally. Physically, they keep showing up and drawing a paycheck.

If going mentally numb isn't for you, there are ways to change the situation while growing personally and professionally. Stop depending on the boss for the leadership, feedback, and expertise that isn't forthcoming. Take responsibility and view your work as self employment. Do your best work, take advantage of every opportunity to grow professionally, and make the boss a better manager than he or she is by excelling.

Your boss will love you for it and reward you. Just make sure you find ways to let upper management know that the good work, the great ideas, and your professional status is due to your own efforts.

Capitalizing on your strengths will give you a strong start.

Be sure to get the utmost out of your efforts with sound goal setting strategies.