Hi,
I have a difficult boss, whose attitude and behaviour towards me is stressing me out no end. I need to know if this is abnormal or is it something I am not doing right. Some examples would be -
1. Asking questions with the purpose of exposing my lack of knowledge about something. Sometimes that knowledge may not even be directly relevant to the task at hand - but when he figures out I do not know something, he goes on asking and then says something slightly insulting, like "You should know at least this."
2. I am a woman, and he discriminates against me with respect to certain projects - we had an argument over this where I tried to convince him, but he stayed put. It also could be coloured by the fact that he thinks I am not 'knowledgeable'.
3. He does not defend me in meetings with the super boss/ super super boss - if the smallest thing goes awry - he later uses the matter to belittle me and strengthen his poor opinion of me.
4. Unnecessary math quizzes - I am not very quick with mental calculations - and he's figured that out. Though this is in no way a key requirement of my job, he uses this simple trick to put me down in meetings, when I cant answer within seconds.
I have tried to politely confront him, but it has not affected his behaviour. On the other hand, his attitude towards my male colleague in the team is very friendly. I do not know whether this is his patronizing attitude towards women, or something I am doing wrong as an employee. But working with him is never a cooperative task. It always feels like I have to keep watching my back!
Please guide. Thanks
I have a difficult boss, whose attitude and behaviour towards me is stressing me out no end. I need to know if this is abnormal or is it something I am not doing right. Some examples would be -
1. Asking questions with the purpose of exposing my lack of knowledge about something. Sometimes that knowledge may not even be directly relevant to the task at hand - but when he figures out I do not know something, he goes on asking and then says something slightly insulting, like "You should know at least this."
2. I am a woman, and he discriminates against me with respect to certain projects - we had an argument over this where I tried to convince him, but he stayed put. It also could be coloured by the fact that he thinks I am not 'knowledgeable'.
3. He does not defend me in meetings with the super boss/ super super boss - if the smallest thing goes awry - he later uses the matter to belittle me and strengthen his poor opinion of me.
4. Unnecessary math quizzes - I am not very quick with mental calculations - and he's figured that out. Though this is in no way a key requirement of my job, he uses this simple trick to put me down in meetings, when I cant answer within seconds.
I have tried to politely confront him, but it has not affected his behaviour. On the other hand, his attitude towards my male colleague in the team is very friendly. I do not know whether this is his patronizing attitude towards women, or something I am doing wrong as an employee. But working with him is never a cooperative task. It always feels like I have to keep watching my back!
Please guide. Thanks