DEALING WITH A BURNED OUT BOSS


	Your boss, like many others, may be under even more strain
than usual these days.  The pressures of downsizing and increased
competition have made what was never an easy job even harder.
It's not surprising--or a sign of personal weakness--that the growing
complexities of contemporary management are causing more and
more bosses to feel burned out.

	Still, you need the vision and guidance an enthusiastic boss
provides in order to do your very best work.  According to Harry
Levinson, author of Career Mastery (Berrett-Koehler, 1992), there
are practical steps you can take to help their bosses recover from
burnout.

	1.  ADDRESS THE SITUATION.  Let the boss know you see he's
got a problem.   "Say something to the effect of 'You look worried,'
'You look troubled,' or 'The last couple of weeks you've seemed down,'"
Levinson proposed in a recent interview.

	Acknowledging the situation has at least two benefits.  First, if
you neglect the problem, chances are you'll become increasingly
angry about the boss's performance, and your relationship may
deteriorate beyond the point of rescue.

	Second, acknowledging the situation relieves the boss of having
to pretend it doesn't exist.  By making it possible to open up a little,
you'll automatically ease some of his burden.

	2.  OFFER TO HELP.  Ask what you can do to take some of the
boss's load off her shoulders.  Even if there's nothing specific you can
do, just making the offer gives her some badly needed support.

	If the boss is cool to your overtures the first time, try her again
a week or so later, using the same basic formula.  Say "I know you
said when we talked last week that you've got matters in hand, but
any time you do need some extra support, I'm ready to help however
I can."

	3.  LISTEN TO WORK-RELATED PROBLEMS.  Even if you can't
directly ease your boss's burden, give him a chance to describe what
he's facing on his own.  You might help him talk through a problem
he's been wrestling with.  At the very least, you show that you care
about the strain he's under--and your concern could help revive his
burned-out spirits.

	Also, the better you understand the constraints the boss is
under, the less likely you'll be to interpret his distressed
performance as a sign of his being a bad person or not liking you.

	One warning: don't let the boss get carried away.  If he starts
telling you about his personal worries, suggest that a private friend
or someone more knowledgeable about handling those types of
concerns would be of more help.

	4.  GUIDE YOURSELF.  While the boss is preoccupied with her
own troubles, make it your business to identify and pursue your
department's priorities.  Keep the boss regularly informed of your
direction, and ask for her insights.

	When the boss is well-informed of your supportive plans and
actions, you'll be one less thing she has to worry about.  Your ability
to navigate without her steady guidance will signal both your loyalty
and your potential.

Does that help? YES or NO