Most Canadians are conflict averse.
My experience working with people within numerous organizations has taught me this time and again.
The problem is even worse when the conflict is with one’s manager. The power differential and the risks associated with dealing with the issue directly lead many of us to avoid dealing with the matter altogether. “After all”, we convince ourselves, “is the issue important enough for me to risk speaking up?”.
If you don’t deal with the issue, it will linger and will negatively impact the relationship and your daily work experience. It will cause chronic stress.
When the boss is the problem, we really have only three healthy choices.
We can accept things as they are and embrace them (maybe even with a smile!).
Or we can choose to raise the issue in a constructive fashion that will lead to a resolution or better understanding.
Whining and putting ourselves in a victim position will do no good whatsoever. You’ve got to speak up or shut up.
And the third option? Pack up. Move on, find another job, another boss, another life.
