When I was a small child, my grandmother would frequently call my sister a boska, which roughly translates from Polish to English as being “bossy.”  As a little sister, I’m here to verify that she was bossy and still is.
Especially when I’ve had a particularly rough day at work, this memory sticks with me. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had some bosses that I would describe as being a boska – although for me, it simply means a tough boss.
Days spent working for a tough boss can be awful. I would guess that when you get home from work on a bad day, you fill the ears of your significant other with complaints and rants about your boss. “They just don’t understand…. I’m doing my best… I hate everything…blah, blah blah.”
This can go on and on and on. However, endless complaining doesn’t solve the problem.  Often, it just seems to make it worse and drives everyone around you crazy.
Thinking back to my sister, I learned to get along with her anyway. And if you’re struggling with your own boska, you may find that you need to relearn this same lesson.
When the day is extra tough, step back and consider the following:

1. Are expectations communicated clearly?: When taking on a new project or even a daily task, stop and ask questions.  Make sure you have a clear understanding of what you’re expected to do.

2. Are you making the same misstep repeatedly?: Having the same conversation a few times should lead to a little red flag going off in your head. Chances are that your boss has noticed the pattern as well.  Ask for their help and advice to help you be on top of your game.

3. When something goes wrong, do you address it or make excuses?: No one wants to hear a list of excuses.  When you make a mistake, acknowledge it. Take responsibility and share your plan to avoid said mistake in the future.

4. Have you put yourself in their shoes?: Managing other people is challenging.  Chances are the person you report to is evaluated on your performance as much as their own.

A boska might be bossy, but somebody’s got to be in charge…and it’s not always easy. The next time you’ve spent your day trying to please someone you perceive as being a tough boss, challenge yourself to grow as a person and as a professional. Learn to work with them and fight through the challenge.

When Girl Wonder was little, the boska in her life was her older sister. This week, she shares a professional lesson for how to work with tough bosses. Like what Angie has to say? Join the conversation below or email her directly.