Stop whingeing about your boss (do this instead.)

We’ve all been guilty of a whinge-fest or two about our boss. 

‘She doesn’t care; he’s not clear, he doesn’t listen, and she keeps piling work on to us and cancelling my 1-on-1s’.

In my experience, no boss is trying to do a lousy job.  Your boss probably experiences self-doubt, too many demands from others and a pile of plates to juggle, just like you do. 

Often, we expect them to be mind-readers, or they expect us to be mind-readers. That’s where our communication misfires. We’re simply two humans trying to do our best in a world of complexity and ambiguity. 

So rather than wishing your leader was better, how about asking, ‘How can I help my leader be a better leader?’ 

If you think your team might be whinge-festing on you (as if!), turn the question around and ask them:  ‘What one thing can I stop or start doing today to be a better leader?’ 

This proactive approach puts you in the driving seat of your leadership life.