How to deal with an unprofessional manager?

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.

First: Identification

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.

Second: Considerations

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.

Third: Reasons

Your boss’s conduct might be because of various 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.

Fourth: Approach

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.

Fifth: Coping

If your issue with your boss is because of her personality, you can try different coping strategies. For example, play the game by smiling and nodding whenever she delivers a know-it-all speech. Keep your attitude positive, accept challenging assignments and treat her with respect, even if you don’t like her. Ensure that you do everything that is required of you. Forge alliances with managers and employees in other departments. Get to know the key players, have lunch with them occasionally, get involved in company programs such as community outreach and stay visible while broadening your circle. These connections can give you direction and even a career reference. While connecting with others in the company, refrain from slandering or gossiping about your boss. Document your work, including instructions she gave you, in case she tries to blame you for mistakes she made or gives you a bad performance review when you performed according to company’s standards.

Sixth: Take Action

If your manager violates the company’s code of standards, you can discuss the issue with him, report the matter to human resources or seek employment elsewhere. If you put up with your boss’s negative conduct, he might take you for a doormat. Respect is earned and he might change his behavior if he realizes he cannot get away with it. Depending on the severity of his actions, you can try tactfully speaking with him, but if he’s a control freak or simply a jerk, he may not appreciate your bringing his own behavior to his attention. Some behaviors should be reported instantly, such as abusiveness or bullying. Document all his unprofessional behaviors, including the date and time, as you will need to prove he behaved in such a manner. Depending on the outcome of your reporting or chat with him, determine whether you need to seek employment elsewhere.

First of all there are approaches direct and indirect either do a face to face confrontation and tell him or her that although iam a junior yet u are wrong here and indirectly is to approach a higher authority

I've work under circumstances that my manager was a bit too unprofessional to my liking, contacting me on the weekend, bad mouthing my wife during the weekend about contacting me, asking for personal favors and so on... Finally I had to put my foot down and make myself heard about the situation. I followed these few steps... They help. 1. Be Proactive. In all likelihood, you are frustrated with your difficult boss because he or she consistently displays bad behavior. It is the pattern of bad behavior that drives you crazy (or in some cases, the boss's inconsistent behavior, as in you-never-know-what-you're-going-to-get). The best way to deal with a difficult boss is to have a plan of action in place. As one client told me, "When the boss calls an ‘emergency' staff meeting, we usually know that she is going to go off on us. She'll either rant and rave or give us the icy and disgusted treatment. But sometimes she's fine, but we always feel like we are walking into a trap." The key is to anticipate the boss's bad behavior. Have an action plan ready. If the boss behaves badly, put your plan into action. If the boss is on his/her best behavior, reinforce the good behavior ("Nice meeting." "Thanks!"). Be proactive by approaching the situation with a positive mental attitude. Display confidence and stay poised. If your boss is a bully, this will show that you are not intimidated by the bullying behavior. 2. Be Prepared. You likely know the difficult boss's pattern of bad behavior, so anticipate and prepare your responses beforehand. Write them on index cards, and practice delivering them. "Boss, when you do that, it isn't motivating me..." or "...it only makes us feel like you don't value our work..." or stronger statements, such as "That kind of behavior is unacceptable." You also should anticipate the bad boss's comeback, and have your response or action plan in place. If the boss begins to rant and rave, you can leave and say, "I'll come back when you are calmed down and civil." Think of it as a chess match, and be prepared several "moves" in advance. You will also need to be prepared for the fallout of standing up to a difficult or bullying boss. The boss might single you out for even worse treatment or might sanction or fire you. That is why it is important to think things through beforehand. What are you willing to do? What are your options? Can you deal with the possible worst outcomes? 3. Be Professional. This is critically important. Always take the high road. Follow proper procedures for registering complaints with Human Resources, or higher-level superiors. Maintain a calm and professional demeanor in dealing with your difficult boss, and don't get into a shouting match or let your emotions get out of hand. Don't resort to name-calling or rumor-mongering, but be straightforward and professional. 4. Be Persistent. It isn't likely that your difficult boss situation will change overnight, so be prepared for the long haul. Moreover, be persistent in calling out your boss's bad behavior, and putting your plan into action. Your coworkers might follow your lead and start to stand up to the difficult boss as well (although you should be prepared for the boss to try to turn them against you, or for your coworkers' possible lack of support). The key is to not let your boss get away with continuing his/her bad behavior.

I agree with Ms. Ghada answer

Thanks for the invitation

 

Fully agreed wth experts anwers

 

this link is very useful too

 

Unprofessional Boss

First of all let us be aware of our roles, duties, responsibilities and authorities in work before talking about Manager is professional / unprofessional. 

1) Clear understanding of above mentioned points puts us in a comfortable space where even if someone is guiding you wrongly, you will be aware of that at very beginning.

2) My request to all of us at work is to earn respect from peers, sub-ordinates and colleagues as well and this can be done only if you are strong on your work awareness

3) Also it is very important to create an impression that we will not encourage any unprofessional activities among sub-ordinates and colleagues and this will create a sense of respect for you among peers.

Hence my point is if we are correct, aware, professional, respectful and honest to our sub-ordinates and colleagues, we will always be in good books of your peers.

The difficulty of dealing with the Director unprofessional and can not be easily learnedBut it remains the art of dealing with others, which is the best ways and means for the transmission of information and meanings and feelings and behavior to other views and influence their thoughts and attitudes and convince them what you want people

Agree with above mention answer by experts

1. I will deal with him unprofessional also since he’s my idol
2. I will be brave to tell him my good reason is to show him what he was to me as I mirror his actions

 

At the peak, I will resign and give him a very short message “I resign because of you being unprofessional manager.”

 

As junior and him (manager) as my senior, I will be honest and shall not keep any bad feelings that may affect my performance and cloud my focus in work.

 

I'm very sorry for being so honest here in my answer! In reality, this is our first approach and being professional will only put you in trouble since that is not his ways.

1. Communication is a two way process so I would make sure I addresses my concerns to my Manager.
2. If they manager continues to be unprofessional I'd hope the Management sees it, otherwise I'd request HR intrusion.
3. There's nothing worse than working for a bad manager in a good organisation.

Thank you for invitation ..... I agree with the answers above