By Pamela J. Gallagher

I have been very fortunate with the bosses I’ve had over the years. On the whole, they have been people I respect and have been able to learn from. Who you work with—and for—can make or break a job. I have even seen colleagues whose entire careers have been upended by a terrible boss. Whether it’s a personality clash, a lack of management or leadership skills, or consistent issues with no improvement, how do you deal with a less-than-ideal boss, especially when you enjoy your work?  In my experience, it’s all about alignment.

When you inherit a boss

When your and your boss’s values align, you don’t have to worry about pleasing the boss. Instead, you can work together to get things done. There are so many books and articles out there about “managing your boss.” Well, I don’t want to manage my boss. I want to manage my work and reach my goals. You can only do that when you do the work of staying aligned with your boss and team.

Sometimes, however, you inherit a bad boss. In these situations, reach for whatever level of alignment is attainable. What do they value that you value? Try to grow a good working relationship with your shared values as a starting point. Be sure to thoroughly define your boss’s expectations of you, as well as your expectations of your boss. Take time to learn about them, knowing that if you truly care about the work you do, you sometimes have to find a way to compromise.

Once, I asked someone working for me what his overall goal was in his work. He answered, “Make the boss look good.” I laughed, but I think there’s something to what he said. When you are on a team, you sink or swim together. We have to be loyal, support one another, and speak up and say good things about each other. This should be reciprocal.

However, I’m not advocating for blind loyalty. If you are in a situation where you cannot support your boss in good conscience, is this the right situation for you? If integrity and respect are not there, there’s only one answer in my mind: it’s time for you to move on.

When you get to hire a boss

As an interim executive, I regularly enjoy the benefit of “choosing” my boss as I consider potential temporary positions. But on occasion in the course of a career, even those in permanent, long-term positions get the chance to hire their boss. This is a golden opportunity to find a person you’re excited to work for, but as I discussed above, this will only happen if your and your team’s values are completely aligned, and you have a clear vision of what you need from the person who takes this position.

Meet with your team before the hiring process begins. Define exactly what you are looking for in a boss. Different things may matter to different people, but make sure you have reasonable expectations of what a single person can offer. Filter your expectations and needs through the lens of the organization’s goals and needs at this time. Hiring a turnaround expert when what you really need is someone who can maintain a well-oiled machine is a recipe for disaster.

During the interview, ask questions that give you a view beyond their experiences and qualifications, and look into their ethics and values to ensure their core values align with yours. You can also listen for clues about this in their answers to questions about past accomplishments and what they are proud of in their career. Hypothetical questions about management style can also give you insights into how they would fit the current culture and preferences of your team.

A good relationship with your boss is essential to thrive in the workplace and get things done. Ultimately, forming this kind of relationship comes down to aligning your values so you can work toward a common goal in a work environment built on mutual support and respect.

Resources

Hiring Your Next Boss, Money, Inc.

Five Pointers For Hiring Your Next Boss, Forbes

5 Tips for Hiring Your Next Boss, Navalent