Think you have a bad boss? 5 things to consider

A few "second thoughts" for those displeased with their bosses and thinking about quitting.

In an article for strategy+business, the publication from Strategy&, Susan Cramm discusses the tension in getting ahead — something she says usually takes more interdependence than independence.

Ms. Cramm is the author of "8 Things We Hate about I.T.: How to Move beyond the Frustrations to Form a New Partnership with I.T." She based her advice on bad bosses on the book "The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead: Dos and Don'ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life", written by Charles Murray.

Here's the context: "You've been working at your new job for six months, let's say, and you're so unhappy with your supervisor that you're considering quitting," wrote Ms. Cramm. "Here's what you need to think through: Exactly what is bothering you?"

Here are a few possible scenarios and pieces of advice.

1. Does the boss ask you to do things you find unethical? If so, you should be prepared to quit, wrote Ms. Cramm. But before cutting ties, she recommended going to another respected senior person in the organization and telling your story. If effective action isn't taken, then quit.

2. Maybe the boss is nice but incompetent. In this case, incompetence can come in many flavors, whether it is the boss issuing unclear directions, misunderstanding instructions from higher up in the chain, or missing his or her own deadlines. The task here is to determine how much the boss' incompetence is holding you back.

"You can learn a lot about good management by working under someone who is a bad manager," wrote Ms. Cramm. "Sometimes incompetent people delegate so much work to their subordinates that you find yourself given meatier tasks than you would get from a more competent supervisor. Unless you need a boss from whom you can learn specific technical skills, you might as well stay on the job, though you might want to quietly test your alternatives in the local job market."

3. Or maybe the boss is a jerk. Ms. Cramm breaks this down to a few different scenarios, one being the sexist, racist or homophobic boss. "You have legal options for responding, but they aren't your only options," she wrote. "Don't underestimate the decency of the other people in your workplace, including the curmudgeons." The curmudgeons, she explained, can act as authoritative figures in a workplace and advocate for those who are taken advantage of.

4. But some jerks aren't discriminatory — just unpleasant. These folks might be crude, controlling, moody or offensive. "How you react depends on how good they are professionally," wrote Ms. Cramm. When this type of boss is talented and very skilled at doing something you want to master, stick around, she said. On the other hand: "The less spectacularly talented your boss is, the less reason you have to stay."

5. Finally, you must ask this: Is it really the boss, or is it you? "What you see as arbitrary, insensitive or hostile behavior on the part of your boss may be nothing more than the way in which supervisors have been treating subordinates from time immemorial," wrote Ms. Cramm. Some bosses do not say please nor express gratitude for late nights in the office, and they might say "no" to a request without further explanation. While not model leadership, those aren't necessarily dealbreaker behaviors. "So if you think you have a bad boss, first go to a quiet room, look deep into your soul and determine whether you are a victim or a self-absorbed naïf," wrote Ms. Cramm.

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