How to deal with an annoying boss

"To be clear, the focus here is on annoying bosses, not toxic ones. A boss who is a narcissist, a harasser, or who sows mistrust isn't just annoying, they're bad for you and the organization. I'm going discuss four things that may seem petty, but if you start dreading your engagements with your boss (or resenting them for their foibles), it can come back to hurt your working relationship."

"If your boss is in that latter category, they may ask you to do things, give you feedback, or generally talk about things going on at work that you don't fully understand. It might be tempting to nod along with them and then try to figure it out later. That avoids an awkward discussion, but it probably causes more problems than it solves."

Annoying bosses differ from toxic bosses; narcissists, harassers, or those who sow mistrust are harmful to employees and the organization. Certain petty behaviors can nonetheless erode relationships if they cause dread or resentment. One common problem, labeled the cipher, is unclear communication; employees should summarize meeting outcomes, repeat back important points, and ask for corrections so understanding improves and the boss learns helpful phrasing. Another common problem is micromanagement; bosses who intrude into task details frustrate employees. There are two common reasons bosses micromanage, and the first often occurs when someone gets their first supervisory role. Addressing these patterns helps preserve working relationships.

Read at Fast Company