What To Do If Your Boss Is An Ex

January 4, 2012|Employers, Interesting Facts, Tips At work| No comments yet

There is nothing worse than having a boss that doesn’t like you. It is harder to get your job done, the boss is always on you and things just aren’t very friendly at the office. However, what if your boss happens to be an ex? That can add a layer of intrigue to the typical boss-employee relationship.

Stay Professional

The best thing to do is to understand that there is a job to be done and that you have to do what the boss says. Yes, it could be very hard to have to take orders from someone who may have broken your heart, but business is all about being professional and keeping your personal feelings out of it. Once you clock out, you don’t have to see your boss, but you have to make it work during the working day.

Know Who Is Above Your Boss

The best thing you can do is to find out who the boss of your boss is. That way, if anything happens that you think was unprofessional, or was a personal slight against you, you can complain to that supervisor about it. Your boss might have some control over you, but there are people who can make life tough for your boss as well. Knowing who to turn to is a key component of doing well at work.

Stay Away If The Relationship Is A Bad One

Another good idea is to simply stay away from your boss. If you and your ex can come to an understanding that you don’t have to see each other any more than necessary, it will make things much easier for the both of you. Face to face meetings could be replaced by electronic exchanges and/or others in the office who can be a line of communication for the two of you.

Do What Is Good For Business

At the end of the day, you still want to be employed. Even if your boss is an ex, there is still a mutual goal of success for the company. Take that into consideration and make sure that you both are working toward the common good of the company and are looking out for your careers in general. Don’t let pettiness get in the way of a promotion down the line.

Working for anyone can be tough, but working for an ex can be even trickier. Just remain professional and understand that there is job to be done for the moment. At some point, you won’t be working with this person and maybe the awkward feelings will actually go away through working together. No matter what the personal feelings are, there should be a professional attitude taken at all times.