Here's how you can handle a difficult or challenging boss.

I have worked with a number of bosses - never tried to classify them whether they are challenging, difficult or inspiring. As a professional, it is your responsibility to deliver what is expected out of you, irrespective of the kind of boss you are working with. With your ingenuity, empathy and energy you can create a positive working environment irrespective of the nature of your boss.

Each leader leads differently and situations will arise in which we will need to learn how to deal with difficult people and when they are our bosses, it is really a situation that requires a certain care. I particularly try to get closer to the person in order to try to understand how they think, what they value, or what they constantly demand from other people. By reading this, I can now adapt so that I am executing and communicating in the way they expect. Additionally, I aim to have recurring one-on-ones with this person to improve my understanding of what is expected of me, what I am doing well and what I can improve. Constant contact, reporting, and delivery are fundamental points to avoid problems with demanding leadership.

Resilience and diplomacy are necessary when dealing with a demanding or tough supervisor. Recognize their communication style and expectations first. Remain professional, concentrate on completing tasks, and ask questions when you need clarity. Before choosing your next course of action, carefully record all interactions and problems, ask for help from coworkers or HR if needed, and think about how it will affect your career in the long run.

Focus on the objective. Align your objective with his objective and with the company's objective. In truth, there is no hierarchy but a greater purpose and responsibility. The one we often refer to with the misnomer "boss" is a holder of this superior responsibility. By aiding him in achieving this shared mission, you can foster success that flows from top to bottom.

Communication is the main success factor in any relationship; it would be no different with your leadership. My approach when assigned to new leadership is to present myself as a partner who is ready for whatever it takes. The first two weeks are essential for creating a good impression and it is important to do your best to contribute positively and maintain constant communication about what is being done, the problems, and especially the solutions. Being honest and transparent is fundamental to creating strong relationships and even when a difficult issue arises, it must be raised and addressed. In short, maintaining constant, clear and objective communication with your leadership will strengthen the leader-led relationship.

Dealing with a difficult boss is not fun. Documenting everything, though tedious, becomes important. A lot of interaction is done via email, and that provides you with documentation. Some interaction, however, is via conference room meetings, telephone conversations, virtual meetings, etc. Follow up with an email that states "as per our conversation earlier today" or "as per our agreement during the conference call/meeting", then include what has been agreed upon. You now have a dialog. Your boss can either agree with you email or reply with changes. Either way, you have started a dialog and it should continue until there is a mutual understanding. You also now have documentation that tracks this understanding.

Some leaders have challenging characteristics, such as being workaholics or requiring constant reports, also known as micromanagement. When dealing with workaholic leaders, it is crucial to set realistic expectations for yourself and others regarding deliverables and deadlines. Establishing weekly objectives helps align these expectations and ensures clarity on what is to be achieved within that timeframe. It helps also set boundaries regarding work time prior. For micromanagement, a micromanaging boss often lacks trust in the team. By consistently delivering on agreed deadlines, communicating effectively, and demonstrating capability, the team can gradually earn the boss's trust, leading to less micromanagement over time.

Regardless of having difficult leadership, creating your network within the company is essential for growth. When you have a good relationship with this network, you gain recognition and have other people by your side to support you in projects or other initiatives. Consequently, having friendly people by your side would also help you in complicated moments and problems as you will not be alone and you can count on them to implement solutions or advocate for your benefit. Being well-connected at work makes work easier, opens doors and brings success to the company. Therefore, work hard to create a good support network within the company in order to create strong relationships and have others to back you up when needed.

As they say: "Rough seas make good sailors". That sentence couldn't be more true. Our experience comes from exposition, from learning when solving problems, from living with people, including difficult ones. As in life, the business environment is governed by politics and it is necessary to develop the soft skills necessary to navigate this environment. Everywhere there will be difficult people, gossip, brownnosers, and bad individuals as well as good and hard-working people. It is up to us to learn how to deal with these profiles while maintaining professionalism and integrity.