Try Not to Stress Out a Boss Who Stresses You Out

January 04, 2018

Try Not to Stress Out a Boss Who Stresses You Out

No one is their best self under stress — remember this when dealing with a boss who puts you on edge. When your manager is feeling pressure, they’re more likely to display their worst qualities. So don’t make things worse by being a source of stress yourself. If you annoy or upset your manager, or if the work you produce is unacceptable, you can expect the worst aspects of their personality to emerge, which will cause you stress. Do what you can to make your boss’s job easier. Research shows that, regardless of their job and industry, managers tend to promote employees who are rewarding to deal with. So do what you can to be a soothing influence on your boss. It will reduce everyone’s stress levels.

Adapted from “How to Deal with a Boss Who Stresses You Out,” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic