Is your boss an Avoider? One who frequently avoids making decisions as you wait for an answer or definitive direction from them? Or as you and coworkers have to scramble and handle as best you can whatever your boss is holding off on.
People who avoid or delay committing to an answer often feel overwhelmed by the situation. Or simply unsure of themselves. Even bosses with bravado can have low-esteem lurking below the surface. Being wrong is a powerful inhibitor. Admitting wrong even more so for some.
A chicken-and-egg situation?
When someone feels overwhelmed, it’s hard for them to know where to start. So they delay making a decision to avoid making the wrong decision. And things pile up.
As time goes on, the Avoider Boss’s continued inaction creates so many loose ends that it feels even riskier to make any decision at all. So avoiding the wrong decision may make it even more likely for things to go wrong!
Unfortunately, some bosses’ management styles thrive on this kind of avoidance. They figure if they avoid making decisions long enough, act pleasant, and get a few things done, they can let the harder things slide. And hopefully their trusty staff will shore up whatever leaks in the dam there are.
On the other hand…
An Avoider Boss may simply be mentally elsewhere. Working on a side business. Sneaking away for a quick rendezvous. Or maybe a quick golf game. Then again they may be dreaming of a job other than this one.
There could also be some personal issues going on occupying their thoughts. Health issues. Family problems. Business pressures they haven’t shared with staff. The list is endless.
Whatever the reason, they may have checked out for the most part. Meanwhile, the work continues. And pressure mounts for someone to take action — often falling to the person or persons closest to the problem. Leaving a lot of staff feeling frustrated and helpless to change things for the better.
And yet they get away with it?
In some organizations, they can get away with this behavior for an extremely long time. Especially if they have a strong staff who step up and, in effect, take over. No one wants to watch their ship sink if they can simply plug up the leaks themselves. But staff members also don’t want the blame that comes with being forced to act without boss’s input.
Avoider Bosses may also have “good ole buddy” connections with their own boss … or the owner. But they also know they have to get things done. And so they’re happy to have staff step up to the plate on some projects. Which is exactly what you will need to do if your boss is prone to delaying hard decisions or avoiding them completely.
Ironically, when good staff step up and keep things going, the boss usually gets the credit. And even if you’re right to feel slighted, making a lot of noise about that can backfire on you. Especially if they’re protected from above. Not fair, but true.
If your boss avoids making decisions…
Approach them with respect — never making them wrong for not acting. You want to help them feel part of the solution. By bringing up work issues without hysterics, and helpfully offering ideas as to how you might proceed, they may be happy to give the go-ahead. Just make sure you have a well-thought out plan and, while staying positive, don’t come off as a know-it-all!
Start small the first time you propose something on your own. And then make sure you see it through, reporting progress along the way. Also make sure to share credit with your boss. Once trust is solidly in place, you can then take on increasingly more responsible projects of your own design.
Avoider Bosses are not risk-takers. If they are going to trust you to take some of the load, they have to be very sure that you can successfully carry out what you’re proposing. They need to know they won’t look bad after all, which is what they’ve been avoiding. Luckily, trust is something that can be earned.
Remember, odds are your boss won’t stop being an Avoider. A boss who avoids making decisions and yet seems to keep things running has no reason to change their ways, But that shouldn’t keep you from getting things done. Enlist fellow staff members in the “managing up” plan. As long as you continue to share the credit with your boss, everyone can breathe more easily.
What if you don’t want to share credit?
Well then … you may have some tough choices to make. Do you want to challenge your boss by raising this to a higher level, knowing you may be knocked down … or fired? You’ve worked to earn their trust. This may leave you without any support or trust, even if you get to stay.
Or you might become your own PR machine making all your efforts — and boss’s non-efforts — known. Again, are you willing to risk your job or how you’ll be treated (if you don’t get fired) just to get all the credit? You’d need to ask yourself why shared credit isn’t enough, at least for now. Though I do understand how unfair that feels.
One more thing to consider … which path will get you better recommendations when you do try to move on to a new job? This isn’t about being a doormat. But it pays to think strategically about what you want and which path will get you the best outcome in the long run.
More posts to help
Worried My Boss Wants to Fire Me
How To Deal With a Bully Boss
Why It’s So Easy To Get Mad at Your Boss
5 Ways Complaining About Your Boss Hurts You
Help! My Boss Doesn’t Respond To Emails
Why Is HR So Useless When You’re Being Bullied?
Boss Doesn’t Respect Me No Matter What I Do
My Boss Says I Have an Attitude Problem
My Boss Is So Incompetent!
Boss Doesn’t Communicate with Staff
My Boss Takes Credit for Everything I Do!
Are You Afraid To Talk To Your Boss?
⇒ EXTRA: Boss Treats You Badly? It’s Not Your fault!
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