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3 Types Of Bosses And How To Deal With Them 

- Article ByAnisha Sahijwala TOI

Identifying certain dominant traits of your boss could be the key to handling him/her in a tactful manner. Here are the types of bosses you could come across and how to deal with them. 

As a professional, you are likely to deal with varied kinds of bosses, some easy to work with, while others, for the lack of a better word, a nightmare. While you may understand that the only option you have is to work around your boss' tantrums, the same can take a toll on your productivity. Here is a list of the boss species and what you should keep in mind when working with them:                                                                                                                LAID-BACK
Laid-back bosses are known to be most comfortable to work with. While they do keep an eye on the work being done by the team, they usually stay aloof and only interfere when absolutely needed.Usually, this boss species understands that the quality of work matters and not the process. Mr. Naik, copywriter agrees, "With a laid-back boss, you take initiative to improve yourself. That's because he doesn't interfere with your work. He gives you the freedom to work in a setup that you are most comfortable in, and when the work is done on time, the boss knows he made the right choice by allowing that freedom. Laid back bosses never take your credit, unlike most other boss types. My boss simply wants the work to get done. He doesn't care about anything else as long as that keeps happening." In a nutshell, laid back bosses are realistic, practical and believe in getting the task at hand completed without interfering in their team's creativity.

Work Tip: Though your boss doesn't interfere, always keep him in the loop and seek suggestions to avoid issues in the future. UNTRUSTWORTHY
A boss who hovers over every step taken by his team mates, an untrustworthy boss is probably the most difficult to deal with. Not only are such bosses hyper, but they also tend to constantly pick on unreasonable issues, disguising them as mistakes and trying to correct them.Consequently, the attrition rate of such bosses is high. Shares Mr. Jain, who works with a travel agency based in Mumbai, "My manager would constantly pick on team members, often without a concrete reason.

Since we are a travel planning agency, most of our work depends on a client's needs. But unfortunately, my boss refuses to understand this and often imposes his decisions on us, and in turn, on the client. This has not only led to a loss of business, but also hindered us from meeting our targets. His lack of trust is a major factor for the number of people quitting the team."

Work Tip: Before beginning an assignment, seek their guidance and constantly update them about the progress to avoid team clashes and criticism.  MICROMANAGER
The trait of a typical micromanager is someone who wants to be a part of each task that his her team undertakes.Right from why a team mate is late to work, to wanting to know the details of even the smallest work undertaken.Working with a micromanager, though daunting at most times, can sometimes be positive. Mr. Shah, who works with a telecommunication company, says, "My boss insists on knowing the details of the work we put in every hour.Whether it is answering simple client queries to how we are preparing for a multi-team presentation, he needs to know it all. I have been questioned a number of times on why I came to work a few minutes late, an issue other team managers would never consider."

While most professionals are not comfortable with being micromanaged, most often, a continuous evaluation by the boss helps them meet their targets and also allows them to pitch for a better annual appraisal. Though a few micromanagers are harsh on their team, often breaking their team morale, most of them keep a hawk's eye on the work undertaken to maintain the quality and meet deadlines.

Work Tip: If you are aware that your boss wants to be a part of everything, make sure he or she is well informed about the work you do, your weekly work plan as well as your achievements on a regular basis. This will help avoid conflict.