#MisfitMayhem: When your Boss is Intimidated By You (5 Tips to Handle That)

If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it may be rearing up its ugly head to pop up at any single moment. At some point or another in your career, you may encounter a boss that is completely and utterly threatened by you. You came to work, you showed out in that report, you danced circles around them in that presentation…or maybe you’re just pretty.

Regardless, I think we all hit a point of intimidation by our bosses caused by jealousy and overzealousness (if you’re a beast at what you do). So, how do you combat those things? Here are my few tips.

1. Try to soothe their feelings. If you have a boss that’s super intimidated by you, it’s best to try to get them to see you’re not gunning for their job (even if you are!). People’s guards go up when they feel threatened, and those high guards may cause for increased productivity in and around the office, convincing your manager there’s absolutely nothing to be threatened by. In cases where I’ve had managers threatened by a skill of mine, I always turn it around and ask them how can we use my skill to better OUR mission (the brand, company, etc.). It utilizes the skill to not only make you look good, but your manager as well.
2. Get them involved in your development. Ok, I know this may be counter-productive if you think they’re trying to sabotage you. However, get on the wavelength of your manager, finding out what they like and don’t like. At the end of the day, they’re your manager. Pacifying may do more good than damage, and in this way, you get a chance to sit down with them and really hone your skills and what you bring to the table.
3. Get Allies Together. I don’t know how I would have survived some of the times managers tried to slander my name or create havoc for me later down the road. The good thing is if you have allies and people who have your back because they’ve worked with you, they will always come to your defense, even when you’re not there.
4. Realize Some Battles Aren’t Worth It. I’ve learned from personal experience that someone else’s jealousy is merely a reflection of their own personal feelings, manifested onto you. When I stopped taking things personally and started thinking about empathy for the person, it immediately changed my outlook. NEVER be apologetic for your gift, or what it is that you do. Continue to work hard, and be the best you you can be.
5. Keep a Track Record of Everything. Everything, and I mean everything. I remember when I first went to college, my mom told me to keep a track of everything I ever submitted. Though the amount of papers began to feel overwhelming, I could literally track any and every paper, doctor note, and assignment given to me. This bit of advice drastically helped me when I entered the working world, where concepts like “Well, I never received this,” or, “I never heard back from so and so, are you sure you sent the report?” happen on a daily basis. So why is this important in this case about your boss? You have no idea to what extent they will go to sully your name, your credibility, or to steal your work. If you can prove that the work you submitted was your own, you spare your manager taking all your work and claiming it as theirs. People will attempt to steal your ideas, so keep a track of everything that covers your tracks. Thank me later.

When all else fails, continue to have faith and perseverance that the situation will get better. If you start to notice your manager doing crazy things out of a want for sabotage or something, then that’s when it may be time to cut your losses (or get HR involved). Regardless, the only person you will ever be able to control is yourself; therefore, do the best you can do, and figure it out as you go.

What tips would you give to someone trying to combat a jealous boss? What do you think?