'My Boss is an Idiot'

It’s a sentiment just about every employee will feel at some point in his/her career: My boss is an idiot.

But regardless of whether this opinion is grounded in reality or delusion, it does little to advance our situation.

When we feel our boss has no idea what he/she is talking about and may not be up to the job, there are several action steps that we should take:

1. Identify the real problem- What is the source of your frustrations? Is it the big-picture philosophy, the tactics or the communication? We must pinpoint the areas in which we feel our boss is letting us down.

2. Am I part of the problem?- We need to have some realistic self-awareness if we’re contributing to our current struggles. It’s easy to point the finger and criticize a higher up, but we’re often a source of our own misery. We need to candidly assess this and consider the influence we may have on our own situation.

3. Solutions- There are solutions to the problem and then there are acceptable solutions. What are the specific areas that you want changed? Spend some time gathering the relevant data and thinking about the details of what really needs to be different to satisfy you and improve the organization.

4. Communicate- Not speaking up isn’t an option. Your boss likely won’t take well to your concerns and proposals at first, so it’s crucial to get him/her to a place of neutrality. Have some facts, be prepared for initial resistance, then present your solutions free of emotion and hostility.

5. Patience- Wounds take time to heal, so it’s fantasy to think we will change our boss in a day or even a week. Let’s set a realistic time frame for when we’d like to see change take place, then hold ourselves accountable to our expectations.

Whether you're an assistant coach, a disgruntled sales rep or an undervalued teacher, it’s easy to build up frustration and hostility taking orders from someone we feel is inept. But consequential change cannot occur until we address the issues head on. Be specific, be strategic, be stoic.

But ultimately, don’t be afraid to speak up.