What should you do if you realize you’re just not getting along with your boss? Start by diagnosing the problem. Here are a few reasons why your relationship might be strained and few things you can try to help mitigate the relationship.Starting a new job always comes with unexpected challenges. One that is especially hard to navigate is a strained relationship with your new boss
You are more conscientious
This trait reflects your motivation to complete the tasks you start well and to follow rules.
- You may try to polish each task given to you to a high gloss, and may be spending too much time on each task relative to what your boss wants.
People-pleaser
More agreeable than your boss, they may not always provide you with feedback that makes you feel welcome at work.
You aren’t getting the feedback you need
This can be particularly problematic when your boss is very agreeable
- Ask specific questions about your work to elicit feedback
- The benefit of this approach is that as your agreeable boss realizes that you take constructive criticism well, your boss will often be better able to offer it without being asked
Openness to experience
People who are open are motivated to check out and embrace new opportunities, while those who are closed find reasons to avoid new approaches.
- Inform your boss about new approaches well in advance of when you need a decision to give your boss a chance to get comfortable with the novelty before having to evaluate it.
One final note: The discussion here assumes that your boss isn’t doing anything inappropriate for the workplace.
If your work environment is stable and you get along with at least a few of your colleagues, it is okay if you and your boss are not people who would hang out together.
Your boss doesn’t help you prioritize
If you have a mismatch between what you think you should be doing and what your boss thinks you are doing, then you are likely to get negative feedback about your performance despite your efforts because you are working on the “wrong” things
Your boss is reactive rather than strategic
Have frequent check-ins with a boss whose priorities shift so that you can determine whether there are new areas where you should be making progress
