What is the best way to deal with a toxic boss? 

Probably everyone will have one at some point in their working life and it can massively change your experience of a job. 

On Moncrieff, leadership consultant Margaret Ward said, sadly, many good people let power go to their heads once they’ve been promoted. 

“They might start talking down to people,” she explained. 

“Some people really do just enjoy humiliating other people publically, it makes them feel better about themselves.

“I think most of us have probably had a boss who was a bad boss who might undermine or gaslight us.” 

A young employee being sacked. Picture by: LightField Studios Inc. / Alamy.com. 

If you have an unpleasant interaction with a boss, Ms Ward said it best to consider whether this was a one off or whether they are irredeemably toxic. 

“You have to analyse, is this a short-term situation and the person’s maybe under pressure? Maybe they just don’t have good personal skills?” she said. 

“Or is this a long-term pattern of behaviour?

“If it’s a long-term pattern of behaviour, well you have to look at not just what you can do but how you might get out of that situation. 

“You might stay within the company but work for a different boss where there’s a different culture. 

“You might stand up for yourself; a lot of people who push really hard, sometimes when you push back, they stop.”

Stand up for yourself

Ms Ward said if you stand up for yourself then a toxic person will realise they have picked on the wrong person and will “probably move onto the next person”. 

“If they continue to do it, then you’re going to have to do something else,” she said. 

“One thing that we often do if we’re being bullied or harassed at work is we think it’s just us - that’s a big mistake. 

“There is power in your relationships with other people. 

“So, talk to somebody who is maybe older than you and is a mentor in that same company. 

“Talk to a colleague, a coach or maybe somebody you worked for before who was a great boss. Tell them what you’re experiencing, so you don’t feel as alone.” 

Ms Ward concluded “life is short” and that if nothing changes after that, then you should try and move to a different role in the company or leave altogether.

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Main image: An angry boss. Picture by: Alamy.com