An absentee leader is disconnected and avoids meaningful involvement with you and the team. How do you fix a psychologically absent boss, and how can this type of leader hurt your career growth?
An absentee leader is one of the most destructive. These leaders enjoy all the benefits, privileges, and rewards of leadership, but avoid meaningful involvement with their teams. In other words, they take value from the organization without putting value in. Some have argued that an absentee leader is worse than an abusive boss.
In an earlier article of mine, I outline why being in love with your nice boss is bad for your career. There is an appeal in working for a boss who lets you do as you please but there are many downfalls to your career, and the health of the overall group. Here are five consequences of absentee leadership.
1) Feeling Alienated
Your boss is rarely around or does five-minute drive-bys. One-to-ones are rescheduled, canceled, or worse, never happen. They don’t return your calls or selectively respond to emails. This distance and estrangement leave you feeling rejected.
2) Long-Term Degradation of Job Satisfaction
The effects an absentee leader takes longer to materialize, and the impact will last longer than other forms of destructive leadership. At first, you justify their absence because they are busy. Next, you think they have more significant problems and trust you to do your job. Finally, you realize they are an absentee leader and this can take months to realize. Research suggests job satisfaction dips for two years as a result of working for an absentee leader.
3) Ambiguous Role Definition
Feeling uncertain is at the core of many workplace stressors. It is especially the case if you are unsure about your role. You wonder if you are engaging in inappropriate work behaviors and failing to participate in the right ones. It causes you to stress over your performance review and advancement opportunities. All because you aren’t sure if the work you are doing is what your boss expects.
4) Mental Health Issues
Feeling isolated, uncertainty around your contributions, and being miserable at work are causes of workplace stressors. These lead to depression and anxiety directly related to having an absentee leader.
5) Increased Levels of Bullying
Unlike a boss who plays favorites, an absentee leader is generally absent to all. Because of their laissez-faire leadership, people can do what they want how they want. It opens the door for bullies to run the playground.
How to Work with an Absentee Leader – Save Your Sanity and Your Career
You can’t fix an absentee leader, but you can try to work better with one. These strategies can help.
Become a squeaky wheel – Get out of your corner and get loud. Be in the boss’s office talking about the work you are doing. Ask for specific feedback and follow-up with progress. Ask for more work and how you can help with their goals.
Get personal – Find out what their likes are. Ask about their family and hobbies. When they mention important dates (birthday, children’s birthday, anniversary, etc.) remember them, send notes, or acknowledge them in person. Bosses day is always a good one to remember. Because absentee leaders are disconnected, try these things to make a connection.
Network with other senior leaders – Networking helps your talent get recognized. It can open the door for a transfer to another team or department. Before applying for a transfer, always inform your current boss.
Visit Human Resources – You are always free to take your concerns to Human Resources. If the Human Resources team is any good, they will help your absentee leader get the coaching they need to improve.
You can resign – The last option is to find another job and a better boss. There is no value in suffering under an absentee leader. Don’t burn bridges and have a graceful exit.
Once you realize you work for an absentee leader act quickly. It is easy to excuse the early signs of absent leadership. Don’t justify it and instead become the squeaky wheel, get personal, and always network. Keep these quotes in mind to spot a bad boss sooner.
“Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”- George Horne
“When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” – Maya Angelou.
Last updated on August 8th, 2020 at 07:01 am
