You might have the best job in the world – a rewarding career, good salary and brilliant co-workers – but that can all fall by the wayside if you have a bad boss. No number of business trips to New York or Paris are going to make up for dealing with someone who makes you dread going into work on Monday morning.
Unfortunately, bad bosses are all-too common: according to a recent survey 42% of employees have left a job because of a bad boss, while nearly a third (30%) of those questioned said their current boss was a poor manager.
Of course, you could hand in your resignation letter and walk away (with a big smile), but what if you actually love your job and want to stay in the role? Is there anything you can do to improve your working relationship? Is it wise to approach your boss or speak to their superiors?
If you have a difficult-to-please boss and want advice on how to improve your working relationship, join us on Wednesday 5 October from 1–2.30pm BST for a live chat with our expert panel. We’ll be discussing:
- Ways to communicate effectively with your boss.
- How to deal with conflict at work.
- Advice on building a constructive working relationship.
The Q&A takes place in the comments section below this article. Taking part is easier than ever: create a free Guardian account or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profile to comment. Alternatively, you can tweet us @GuardianCareers or email your questions to charlotte.seager@theguardian.com who can post them for you.
Panel
Dr Gary Wood is a chartered psychologist, life coach and author of personal development books. He works extensively with clients on career development strategies and confidence building in careers.
Jo Martin is a senior employment law specialist at Bond Dickinson LLP solicitors, and advises employers and employees on all legal issues arising, from discrimination to contractual matters, restructuring to dismissals.
Anna Carroll is an executive coach and organisational consultant at Everyday Feedback, specialising in workplace leadership and team development. She is also author of How to Give Everyday Feedback to Speed Up Your Team’s Success and The Workbook: How to Use the Everyday Feedback Method with Your Team.
Nick Cutland is director of quality at ILM, the largest leadership qualifications provider in the UK. He is responsible for ensuring qualifications are tailored to help individuals learn leadership skills such as managing conflict at work. Cutland has also held senior leadership roles at Trinity College, Cache and Central YMCA.
Enrique Garcia is an employment law expert who specialises in advice and tribunal litigation. He joined ELAS in 2012 and provides extensive guidance on all matters of employment law, particularly discrimination, employee contracts and dismissals.
Kate Russell is managing director of Russell HR Consulting, an author and employment law expert. Having qualified as a barrister, she moved to industry and has a reputation for resolving hard-to-deal-with employment issues. She is the author of a number of practical books for employers.
Denise Taylor is an award-winning psychologist with Amazing People, helping clients to find their perfect career. She is also an author of career books, including: Find Work at 50+ and Now You’ve Been Shortlisted.
Alyson Pellowe is an HR consultant with 15 years experience running her own consultancy. She has a keen interest in making managers as effective as they can in the workplace and assisting staff to make the most of their career choices.
Jon Gregory is the founder and author of win-that-job.com. During an extensive period of consulting in career coaching and organisational development, he has helped people to successfully manage a difficult boss and find a way to deliver improved results and secure a promotion.
Andrew Fennell is the director of StandOut CV, a London-based CV writing service. Fennell has previously worked as a senior recruitment consultant across multiple industries.
Looking for a job? Browse Guardian Jobs or sign up to Guardian Careers for the latest job vacancies and career advice
