Blog — Clear Career

Wouldn’t it be nice if a job search was more like online shopping?

You have a general idea in mind of what you want, so you log on to “Jobmazon.com” and browse the management personalities available in the job category you’re interested in. You get a photo, a description, and various reviews. With so many options, the boss you receive is totally up to you.

Narcissistic Nick – Nick will be completely absorbed with his own goals and success. He will take all praise and reflect all blame on you. If you hint at a fault, he will respond in anger. When the higher ups are present, he will direct all attention to himself and make you out to be nothing but a bothersome necessity. He has only one career goal: “My success above yours”.

Demanding Deb – Deb has a square head on her shoulders and knows what needs to be done to complete a job, but she will never be satisfied with your output. It won’t matter how many hours you pour into her project or how high the quality of your results, it will not be enough for her. She will demand more and more.

Indecisive Ian – Ian is constantly second guessing every move. He’ll get you started on a project only to change his mind when you’re half finished. If you present him with a problem and request guidance for solving it, he will talk through every option twice.

Stonewall Jackson – Jack is mostly a great boss, helpful and considerate, but any time he becomes overwhelmed or frustrated, he will go silent. He will refuse to answer his phone, reply to texts, or even acknowledge that you are talking to him. He enters the dark abyss of noncommunication.

Human Hannah – Hannah is a motivated individual, understanding what’s required for the success of the company. She tries her very best, but is also quick to take responsibility when she makes mistakes. She understands that those above her and beneath her are human, just as she is, and treats them with respect and understanding.

With choices like these, you’re bound to find the perfect job with the type of boss you work best with. Unfortunately, that never happens and often we find ourselves under a difficult personality, leaving us frustrated, overwhelmed, and angry. What then?

Here are three suggestions that may help you not only cope, but succeed under difficult people.

1. Find their strengths. It may seem that some people have only negative traits, but if you really look close, you can typically find something about them that has a positive effect on the success of the company.

Nick may be self-absorbed, but while he’s feeding his ego, he’s also pushing the company into greater success. Deb may be a pain in the butt to work for, but her team gets things done. Her team gets noticed. Ian may be indecisive, but he does think a plan through before implementing it. Jack may become silent from time to time, but when he is not overwhelmed, he is great to work for.

2. Use their positive trait to your career advantage. Play their game, so to speak. There is a bit of healthy strategy that must take place for success to become reality. It is a strategic use of circumstances though and not a maniacal manipulation of people.

Help Nick succeed and let his success pull you up to higher success of your own. When the time is right, you will get your chance to ensure the CEOs see the worth of your efforts. Make yourself an invaluable asset to Deb’s projects. Be the most valuable player on the most valuable team. Present ideas and solutions to Ian in a way that makes him feel as if he confidently chose it himself. This relieves stress for him and makes you a trusted advisor. Find ways to take some of the weight off Jack’s shoulders. When you sense he is reaching the frustrated state, step in and take lead on some of the minor issues.

3. Take a look in the mirror. While some bosses truly have difficult personalities, others may simply be reacting to your difficult personality trait. Are there attitudes or quirks that make them feel you disrespect them or do not have the company’s success in mind? If there are things you need to change, be humble enough to change them.

With a little bit of thought and healthy strategic thinking, you can turn a difficult management issue into a stepping stone to personal and professional success.

Want to talk with someone about your career? Schedule a 30 – minute session here.

It is the all-consuming question that every human has asked, in one form or another - “What is it that I truly want?” or “Where do I want my career to end up?” Not only have I heard this hundreds of times, but I have asked myself it many times in many different seasons of life. There is this nudge inside everyone pushing them in a certain direction. Whether that is towards the arts, entrepreneurial endeavors, building a family, travel, or running after a career, whatever your heart is pulled towards matters. Another common thing I hear is people doubting their desires in life. There is an overwhelming belief that desires, or passions, should be stuffed down and ignored in order to succeed. This is a lie. Many believe that what they really love should be a side hobby, only invested in from time to time, and that they must work in fields they dislike in order to make money and feel successful.

So, today I want to talk about your positive mind. How positive are you that you know what you want, and that you will get it? Are you aware of how you feel on a subconscious level about your life as a whole? Do you look at your life with the belief that you deserve what you desire - or do you believe it will be a disappointment? And even if you lean toward positivity and assurance of knowing what you want, you may still be asking, “How do I get there?”

Think back to infamous scene in Indiana Jones The Last Crusade. He’s standing at the edge of a cliff, his map has brought him there. Looking out to where he needs to be, and the deep chasm between the spaces, he begins to doubt. Had he gone the wrong way? How was he supposed to surpass the chasm between where he is and where he needs to be? But he knew that he knew that he knew where he was supposed to be. So his faith helped him make the impossible choice, to take a step into the empty airspace over the chasm. Surely, he would fall to his death...wouldn't he? But as soon as he stepped out, a rock appeared. And then another, and then another. Together, the rocks made a bridge for Indiana Jones to get where he needed to be. Where he knew he was supposed to be.

Are you so certain that you were made to be somewhere specific that you would take that kind of risk? Here are a few key questions you can ask yourself on this journey:

What do I really want?
Do I believe I can attain that?
How open am I to receive what I want?

You truly come to recognize what you desire out of life by growing your positive mind. None of us would achieve goals if we constantly had thoughts like, “I could never do that.” or “I’m not smart enough to get there.” or “No one will support me.” And yet, we often have subconscious thoughts very similar to this.

As Dr. William Larkin says, “There is no sense in finding a new job or a new relationship if you take the same discontent with self and the same unrealistic baggage to the next destination. Sometimes you just have to do that to learn, but most of the time, it’s really not necessary and an enormous waste of time and resources.”

If you’re still unsure of yourself, take a look at this.

Recognizing your desires and playing to your strengths will offer you a lifetime of fulfillment and aliveness. Combining your true desires with belief and openness can lead you there.

For more strategies on how to play to your strengths at work, read more here.