In the workplace, employees are expected to behave in a manner that reflects positively on the company. Unprofessional behavior belies that standard and disrupts the work environment. Managers are expected to set a good example for their subordinates to follow.
A manager who fails to act in a professional way can damage employee morale. If your manager is unprofessional, try to resolve the issue in a productive manner. Reviewing professional vs. unprofessional behavior in the workplace by a boss will help you deal with the problem.
Each company has its own standards of conduct that employees must follow, but there are some general principles that apply. Before you accuse your manager of unprofessional conduct, read your company’s code of standards to determine its requirements.
Examples may include stealing company secrets, aggression and bullying, fraud, vandalism, profanity, sexual harassment, extreme noise, negative comments that might impact the workplace, offensive jokes and disrespecting others and their personal items.
Having a manager who acts unprofessionally can be frustrating Their behavior may involve belittling employees, mood swings, inappropriate conduct, or not supporting the team.
Dealing with an unprofessional boss can negatively impact motivation. It may also make team members less effective. In some cases, inappropriate behavior can cross lines and become harassment.
If you have an unprofessional manager, how should you handle it? Here are some practical strategies to improve the situation:
Evaluate the Severity of the Behavior
The first step is to objectively assess your manager’s conduct. Consider:
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How frequent and pervasive is the unprofessional behavior? Is it a one-off incident or a regular pattern?
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What specific actions are they taking that seem inappropriate? Be specific.
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How is it negatively impacting you and other team members? Is it harming morale, engagement performance?
Classify the behavior as either minor or major in severity. Minor issues may involve rudeness, moodiness, disorganization, etc Major issues include harassment, discrimination, safety violations, unethical conduct, etc
If it’s minor, you may choose to adapt around it. But major issues often warrant formal action.
Have a Dialogue With Your Manager
If your manager simply lacks self-awareness, a dialogue can make them aware of how their actions affect others.
Schedule a private meeting and remain calm. Point out specific incidents where your manager acted inappropriately. Explain your own reactions and those of other team members. Suggest ways they could handle similar situations better in the future.
The dialogue should remain professional. Don’t get personal or accusatory. Your goal is to preserve your working relationship while improving their behavior.
If they respond constructively and improve, the problem is resolved. But if they become defensive, push back, or retaliate – it’s best to involve HR.
Adapt to and Ignore Minor Issues
Not every unprofessional boss can be repaired. You may need to adapt around their ingrained flaws.
For minor issues, try:
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Taking problems less personally and focusing on your own work.
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Structuring your schedule and tasks to limit contact with the manager when possible.
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Asking for clarity in writing rather than face-to-face when they are unclear.
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Looping in other colleagues on emails to establish timelines and accountability.
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Focusing on the positives like your coworkers, job duties, pay rather than the difficult boss.
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Having an outlet outside work to manage the stress.
While not ideal, adapting prevents their behavior from ruining your job experience. It also demonstrates professional maturity in difficult situations.
Know Company Policies on Appropriate Conduct
Thoroughly review your employee handbook, code of conduct, harassment policies, complaint procedures, etc. This clarifies what behavior is prohibited.
While your manager has power over the team, they must still follow company policies like any employee. Their status does not give them a free pass for misconduct.
Knowing the rules helps you identify major red flags that warrant reporting. It also arms you to reference policies if you need to file an official complaint.
Document Issues and Involve HR if Needed
For more serious offenses, you may need to report your manager’s behavior to HR and upper management. But first:
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Note down specific incidents with dates, times, witnesses, and details. This creates a paper trail.
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Discuss privately with trusted colleagues to validate your concerns are not isolated.
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Give the manager a chance to rectify issues unless the misconduct is egregious.
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Present the documentation calmly to HR. Explain how it’s affecting you and request remedial action.
HR should investigate impartially without tipping off your boss initially. If they handle it well, the situation can improve with counseling, training, monitoring or replacing the manager.
When to Move On From the Job
In extreme cases, it may ultimately be necessary to leave a job with an unprofessional boss who shows no signs of change. This should be a last resort though.
Red flags may include:
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Ongoing retaliation, bullying, or hostility after reporting them.
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Verbal threats or unsafe conditions at work due to their conduct.
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HR not taking credible allegations seriously after multiple attempts.
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Their behavior continues deteriorating, leaving you in an untenable situation.
While frustrating, remember leaving a job is not failure. Protecting your well-being and principles trumps trying to cope with an abusive manager indefinitely.
Preserve Your Own Integrity and Values
Working under an unprofessional boss can feel like an integrity crisis. How you conduct yourself is a test.
Stick to the high road by:
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Maintaining professionalism even if the boss does not.
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Not stooping to their level or spreading negativity about them.
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Supporting colleagues experiencing similar issues.
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Reporting major issues responsibly through proper channels.
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Making ethical choices if performing duties they neglect or refuse.
No matter how difficult the situation, hold onto your personal values. Integrity matters most when it is being tested.
By addressing your manager’s conduct properly, you can drastically improve a bad situation, or know when it’s time to move on. But never let their behavior erode your own principles and professionalism. Handling the issue constructively says more about you than them.
What is Company Policy?
If your boss acts in a manner that you don’t like, depending on the deed, the company might not deem it as unprofessional. For example, he may be self-centered, arrogant or egocentric.
Though you might not like his personality, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s unprofessional. Review your company policy guide or employee handbook to see if your bosss behavior crosses any unacceptable employee behavior lines.
Reasons for This Behavior
Your boss’s unacceptable behavior at work might result from multiple reasons. For example, if she feels inadequate because she lacks the proper skills for the position, her conduct might stem from insecurity. Other reasons might include poor communication, problems in her personal life, substance abuse issues or environmental factors, such as excessive work demands.
To determine how to handle your boss’s unprofessional behavior, gauge the severity of the issue. The phrase “Pick your battles carefully” rings true here. For example, if your boss violates company policy or if his conduct negatively affects your productivity, address the matter promptly. If it’s a minor issue that can be overlooked, try to do so, recommends jobs website, Indeed.com.
How To Deal With A Difficult Boss – Tips for Handling a Challenging Boss
How do you deal with an unprofessional manager?
Here are five steps you can take when dealing with an unprofessional manager: 1. Decide if the behavior is a major or minor issue First, you might determine whether the behavior is something that may require action in some form.
Is your manager’s behavior unprofessional?
Casual conversation and conduct, though, can sometimes lead to inappropriate behavior and comments from managers that may affect your team’s productivity and well-being. If your manager’s behavior is unprofessional, there are some ways you can handle the situation.
How do you manage unprofessional behavior in a manager?
Sometimes you can learn to manage unprofessional behavior in a manager by adapting to or ignoring it. For example, if your manager is gossiping about other employees or supervisors, you can excuse yourself from the conversation and walk away. Or, if they’re asking you personal questions, you might redirect the conversation to work topics instead.
How do you know if your boss is unprofessional?
Signs of an unprofessional boss can range from someone who makes inappropriate comments or acts too chummy with workers, to someone who loudly criticizes or even verbally abuses employees. Dealing with the unprofessional behavior can be tricky, but addressing the issue can help ease the toxic work environment it creates. How bad is your boss?
