It’s just another day at work yet you’re already wishing for the weekend to come. Sounds familiar? Admittedly, there are certain moments when you do feel like work is such a drag; times when it’s so difficult to yank yourself out of bed to get ready for work. However, the feeling of weariness may not be the sole reason why you want to avoid work. Could it be that you are trying to avoid your boss? Perhaps their mere presence puts you on edge. Here are 5 things that can make you edgy about the boss and how you can minimize your anxiety.

1. The “I-am-watching-you” Look. Your boss seems to have nothing better to do than monitor your every move. You feel like there’s a human CCTV and you’re in focus. S/he continually springs from nowhere right at your desk without specific purpose; sometimes not even saying anything. How to deal with it? Smile. Ask your boss how his or her day is going. Be friendly though s/he is not; be polite. Don’t react by telling your boss about the project that you’re doing – it can be perceived as defensive. Be calm.

2. The Load Giver. Working in a company that utilizes almost every talent their workers have can be quite nerve wracking. Your boss may give tasks outside of your job description and expect you to accomplish them because s/he “trusts and expects a lot from you”. You find yourself cramming to meet unreasonable (unfair, too!) expectations. Relax. If you think you are burdened with something outside your realm, be honest and talk to your boss. Come to a compromise by asking the boss if there are other things you can do.

3. The “What the hell is this?” Face. Glitches happen at work. If you make a mistake it’s natural to feel nervous and dread the boss’ reprimands. Maybe you even deserve to be admonished. Piece of advice: review your work before handing it to your boss. If s/he finds fault with it, ask what s/he wants exactly (politely) and do what you think would appease him or her.

4. The “What is…?” Boss. Most employees get cold feet when the boss starts questioning their work. Yes, you could be right in thinking that your expertise is being tested. There’s no reason to be nervous if you know what your job is all about. Be prepared to answer any questions; your boss hired you for this so you had better be good at it. Right?

5. The “Come see me in my office” Line. This line is the cause of many a panic for most workers. When your boss invites you to his or her office, you usually get this queasy feeling in your stomach. Well, it may be a normal reaction but you have to be cool. Being called in the office does not always mean that you have done something wrong. Maybe your boss wants to compliment you for a job well done and a promotion is in the offing. Be positive and keep in mind that the boss still has a good side and can call your attention to good things, too.

Bosses may fall under a variety of stereotypes, but they are still human. Getting nervous around the boss is something that everyone experiences. You should learn to handle your nerves. Don’t let your boss think that you can be easily intimidated. The next time your boss calls you, smile and keep your head up high. it might not be so bad!

So what other things make you nervous about your boss and what do you do to address them?

Tags: job, job tips, jobs, new job, Personal Branding, professional

This entry was posted on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 10:17 am and is filed under Free Advice, Promotions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.