I know that it’s normal to be afraid of your boss, but you probably don’t want to admit it. And I get it—you might feel like you’re the only one in the office who is afraid of your boss. But I’m here to tell you that everyone can learn how to stop being scared.
If we all learned how to be more confident and comfortable around our bosses, we would enjoy a significantly better working environment and have less stress at home too!
Land More Interviews With A Professional Resume
Get a professional resume review from a certified career expert
Is it normal to be afraid of your boss?
Yes, it’s normal to be afraid of your boss. It’s a natural human response that has evolved over time as a way to protect yourself from danger and keep yourself safe.
There are a number of reasons why you may feel this way:
- You might have been hurt by your boss in the past (or even now), so you’re scared that they could do it again if they wanted to. This can make you feel like there’s no way out of working with them because they’d just hurt someone else!
- Your company is going through hard times, and its future looks bleak, which makes it seem like nothing will ever get better for anyone involved with its management team—especially since none of them seem bothered by these problems either!
You don’t know if your boss is aware of the problem, and even if they are, it doesn’t seem like they care. It can be hard to tell whether or not they’re taking measures to fix this issue because most of them will probably just ignore it until it goes away on its own.
What is the fear of your boss called?
The fear of your boss is called “bossphobia.” You might also hear it referred to as “bossophobia,” and this term should be used in cases where the phobia is caused by someone’s growing up around a bad boss. In other words, if you were scared of your parents or teachers growing up, then when you became an adult and had to work with them again (and maybe even work for them), then you would develop bossphobia.
Bossphobia can cause anxiety disorders like social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and specific phobias such as agoraphobia (fear of open spaces).
What do you do when you feel intimidated by your boss?
- Take a deep breath and relax. If you’re feeling threatened by your boss, it’s important to recognize that your feelings are not as important as the business relationship between you and him or her.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions if something doesn’t make sense or feel right. Your supervisor may have good intentions, but they might not be the best ones for everyone involved in the situation (including yourself).
- Be assertive but not aggressive, and don’t challenge them until they give you permission! It’s okay if they want input from others first; however, once something has been decided upon by all parties involved, let go of any concerns about whether or not this decision will work out well for everyone involved—or even just yourself!
If you’re feeling stressed out about a situation at work, it can be helpful to talk it over with someone who has your best interests in mind.
This person doesn’t have to be a supervisor or manager; in fact, sometimes the most helpful conversations are with those we don’t see on a regular basis. If you’re not sure where to turn for help, consider talking with an employee assistance program (EAP).
How do I become less intimidated by my boss?
The first step to becoming less intimidated by your boss is understanding his or her personality. If you know what makes your boss tick, then it will be easier for you to identify when he or she is trying to push away the fear in order to get things done.
For example, let’s say that your boss is very Type A and likes things done quickly (this could also apply if she has a Type A personality). So if she’s afraid of change and conflict, she may make sure that there are no open-ended projects on the schedule so as not to allow room for something new or different from her way of doing things.
She might also try to avoid giving any feedback at all because it would mean taking responsibility for making decisions—which means taking responsibility away from herself (and possibly causing offense).
One thing I’ve learned over time is that everyone has their own way of handling conflict—and some people are better than others at it!
If yours is more prone to confrontation than negotiation or negotiation skillset, this could help explain why nothing ever seems to get resolved during meetings with colleagues: “Even though everyone knows what needs fixing, there isn’t anyone willing or able to change anything about how things currently operate within those departments so everyone else doesn’t feel stressed out too much either.”
How do I stop being scared at work?
If you’re afraid of your boss, it’s important to know why that is. Are there any past experiences that could influence this fear? Have you had a difficult interaction with your boss before? Is there anything in particular about the way they treat other people that makes you feel uncomfortable?
Being aware of your feelings and trying to understand them can help. When I was at work one day, I realized that my biggest concern wasn’t necessarily my boss but rather how everyone else saw me when they saw me talking with her (i.e., did they think I was weak or stupid?)
This helped me understand what might be going on inside myself—and it also helped explain why some days were easier than others: if something bad happens at home or outside of work life-wise, these negative emotions tend not only to affect our mood but also our behavior as well—which means being assertive can help keep those bad feelings away from work!
If none of this seems helpful yet, then maybe ask for help! There are many resources available online (such as The Mindful Workplace) that teach techniques such as self-compassion meditation; try these out if nothing else works until we figure out where exactly these fears come from within us ourselves.
Land More Interviews With A Professional Resume
Get a professional resume review from a certified career expert
Conclusion
Being afraid of the boss isn’t necessarily bad. It may just mean that they intimidate others with their power because they’ve been given too much authority over others, who may not feel comfortable speaking up against them if they don’t like what’s being said.
Your resume may not be perfect, and your references may not be able to give you a glowing review. But if you can show that you’re willing to learn, take initiative, and work hard, that’s what will get you noticed.
If you need help with your resume, we have a team of experts who can help you create a document that will get noticed. We also offer a free resume review if you want to make sure your resume is going to get past an employer’s desk.