On absent bosses and caffeine.
Sometimes your boss checks out before you do, and sometimes they go awol, mentally or otherwise, for a sustained period of time.
As an employee, you rely on your boss to guide you and support you in your role. But what happens when your boss seems to have lost their passion and connection to the company? If your boss is just going through the motions and seems disconnected from the workforce, it can be demotivating and frustrating for everyone. Worse, it can quickly lead to the destruction of the company by the flight of key talent.
Here are some steps you can take if you find yourself in this disconnect situation:
Try to understand what is causing your boss’s behaviour.
Before taking any action, try to understand why your manager or boss seems disconnected from the company. Are they facing personal challenges or difficulties outside of work? Are they dealing with a high workload or pressure from upper management? By understanding the root cause of their behaviour, you can approach the situation with more empathy and find a more effective solution.
Be proactive and take the initiative.
If your manager/boss is not providing the leadership you need, you may need to take the initiative and start taking on more responsibility. This can be an opportunity to show your leadership potential and demonstrate your value to the company. If your boss is open to it, you can also suggest new ideas or projects that can re-engage them and help the company move forward.
Build relationships with other leaders and colleagues.
If your manager/boss is not receptive to your efforts to re-engage them, it can be helpful to build relationships with other leaders and colleagues in the company. This can give you access to different perspectives, resources, and support that can help you navigate the situation. You may also find new opportunities or roles that are a better fit for you.
Communicate your concerns respectfully and constructively.
If you’re still struggling to work with your disconnected supervisor, it may be necessary to have a frank and respectful conversation with them. Be sure to approach the conversation constructively and focus on specific behaviours or issues that are impacting the team or the company. Try to offer concrete solutions or suggestions that can help them reconnect and re-engage with the company.
Consider other options if the situation doesn’t improve.
If your boss’s behaviour continues to negatively impact the team or the company, it may be time to consider other options, such as talking to HR, seeking a transfer to another department, or even looking for a new job. Remember that your own professional growth and happiness are also important, and sometimes it’s necessary to make a difficult decision to move on.
So really, having a manager or boss that has “checked out” is both frustrating and annoying, it sucks. But by taking a few proactive steps, building relationships across the organisation and outside of it, and communicating constructively, you can find a solution that works for everyone involved, even if that solution is a resignation letter.
