In a perfect world, every employee and their boss would share the same personalities, agree on everything and get along all the time. But this is not an ideal world, so you will not always going to get along with your manager.
If you're worried that you may upset your manager in some way, you should pay attention to these warning signs that may put your job in danger.
Based on a CareerBuilder survey of over 2,000 employers, 27% of managers have an employee that they would like to see leave the organisation. These managers handle undesired employees in various ways. Some send subtle signals of their dissatisfaction, others are outspoken in their discontent, and some choose to avoid the situation entirely.
If you unintentionally annoyed your manager in some way, you'd hope they don't take it seriously.
Some of the specific ways managers say they handle an employee they'd like to see leave include:
Issue a formal warning: 42%
Point out faults in employee's performance more often: 27%
Reduce responsibilities: 21%
Hire someone else to replace the employee: 12%
Move the employee to a different work area: 8%
Keep the employee out of the loop about new organisation developments: 8%
Communicate mainly through email instead of in person or over the phone: 7%
Don't invite the employee to meetings or involve them in specific projects: 6%
Don't ask the employee to social gatherings with coworkers: 3%
32% of managers say they would not do any of the above. But if you were in this situation, you'd want your manager to be upfront with you about any problems standing in the way of your professional success.
You can still turn things around
Whether or not your boss is direct with you about their discontent, chances are you'll know if you're not one of their favourites. While it can be a stressful situation, don't start finding a new job, at least not yet. Here are some tips on how to fix a broken relationship with your manager:
There's always a way to fix your relationship with your manager.
Focus on your performance.
Find areas you can improve immediately and show your commitment to the company's objectives. 63% of managers say the best thing an employee can do after a clash with the boss is to improve the quality of work. In most cases, negative attitudes will be forgotten.
Don't hold a grudge or rumour.
59% of managers say one's ability to "move forward and not hold a grudge" is vital to repairing working relationships. Employees who can demonstrate professionalism despite personal differences will be in a better position to navigate office politics. Similarly, 38% of managers say merely not discussing the problem with other coworkers is an excellent way to fix a relationship.
Rewrite the terms.
If you think your manager is pushing you away, take a preemptive move by offering ideas that may improve the working relationship. 40% of managers say this as an excellent way to move past the obstacle. You have the right to clear expectations of your roles and responsibilities. A conversation that redefines or clarifies those expectations is sometimes needed.
