“I have a new boss who is increasing stress and negatively impacting my performance.”

“He insists that I do everything his way. He checks on me constantly.  I must copy him on every email.  Even the most obvious decisions require his approval.  He has not said one positive thing to me in the three months he has been my supervisor.”

According to surveys, 42% of employees say they dislike their supervisor and 71% say their supervisor is a major cause of stress. Micromanagement, unclear expectations, and poor communication are the major reasons why employees may dislike their boss.

Consider the following:

1. Can you overlook it? The number of employees who fully align themselves with their leaders’ decisions is near zero. 

2. Respectfully, discuss with your supervisor a specific practice and suggest an alternative. “Could you focus on my performance metrics and allow me a more freedom?”

3. After a discussion, send a brief email to confirm expectations. “Just to be clear, I understand you want the project completed by …?”

4. Before quitting, escalate only as a last resort.  Consider reporting to HR, or a trusted mentor, documented examples that show dysfunctional behavior patterns.