For those unsure of its meaning, apathy is a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern regarding work tasks and responsibilities.
Working as an Executive Assistant at times, certainly feels as if you are in a maze of mixed signals and hidden agendas. One of the most frustrating signals is when your boss begins to show apathy. When the time comes that you are in a position where defending your boss’s actions or making excuses for their behavior or communication cannot be sustained, it is time to look at ways to maintain your sanity. Here is a list of strategies that may help.
Get Experience
Oddly enough, this is actually a great time to get to know details of duties for your own benefit. In your own way you can take the reins on certain tasks that give you an opportunity to learn more about the business or why your dept. does what it does for the business. Before you know it, by stepping up, you may hear staff joking that you are the one who runs the show.
Take Responsibility
Good leaders do well by making their staff less reliant on them. They support from a distance in order to help you grow. Apathetic leaders though leave you no choice but to own everything you must action, including those things outside your daily domain. You have no choice but to work without a net to accomplish tasks knowing the boss will not either know or recognize your efforts. Your boss chooses not to swim; you have no choice but to avoid drowning yourself.
Don’t Slack Off
Time to not follow the leader’s apathy. It is important that when your boss deflects and hides from daily obligations, you do not let that example rub off on you. Don’t use it as an excuse to indulge in your own worst instincts.
Don’t Gossip
It is all too easy to engage in conspiracy theories the moment your boss walks into a meeting or an off-site engagement. While this is a time to bond with peers, this is not the course of action you should do. Your own integrity is called into question when you partake of ‘speculation’ on your boss’s actions. So while your boss leaves their laptop collecting dust, your response to staff asking questions should reflect a bit more of a smile and a “no comment” than a wordy reply.
Give it Time
It will happen…eventually. Your boss, like yourself, answers to a person(s) above them. Know that your lack of confidence in your boss will not be something you experience alone after a while. Wait it out and hope for the best if you have zero interest in an exit strategy. The background whispers will become a loud roar at some point. Remember that once a year you must explain your achievements and assertions you’ve done everything you could to achieve your goals. Your boss will need to face the same scrutiny.
Involve Your Boss
Your boss is facing similar issues that you feel over time as well. They may be hurt or disappointed from a promotion passover, peer pressure or just worn down from the daily turf wars. Emails always forwarded and rarely leaving the office. Look for ways to draw your boss out from under the carpet. You are natural allies. You are a team. Capitalize on that by approaching your boss to solicit opinions on meetings for example. Increasing their comfort level in order to maneuver them into a position of contribution.
Don’t Poke the Bear
Do not question your bosses conduct when apathy sets in. Your boss has one major concern regardless of what is going on. That concern is collecting a paycheck. Anything threatening that will backfire on you. Your boss may feel cornered and lash out at you. You may be witnessing their personal attacks, dirty politics etc. if someone has done this already. Your poke may show you up as a troublemaker. yes you have the guts to ‘go there’ and express what the team feels but this will not end well. Its a tough spot to be in. Your boss’s superiors only care about numbers and you may be viewed as a snitch or a complainer. Human resources, when push comes to shove are inclined to side with management, regardless of your documentation. No matter what, you are branded as someone who does not play well with others and cant work out your own issues. Biting your tongue may be your only option for now.
Give the Benefit of the Doubt
Take a step back and look at the situation with a fresh set of eyes. The frequent quite phone calls may be a case of asking a mentor(s) how to deal with a current issue(s). The closed door sessions may be their new way to ‘hunker down’ and get business done. Closed doors can also mean setting major strategy to move the business forward in a big push. It could be the superiors to your boss dragging their feet and not giving your boss ample room to make things happen. Don’t always look for the worst in a situation. It is easier to invoke negative thoughts than positive ones. Hoping for the best in people is ok to do. Yes you may have doubts, but be aware of an instinctive reflex to distrust as it will make matters worse.
Build a Network
Collateral damage. We all know it has happened on many occasions where the executive assistant suddenly leaves at or near the same time as their boss was relieved of their position. The last thing you need is to be associated with a lightweight leader as viewed by their superiors. If you feel your boss’s apathy will affect you in a bad way, carve out your own identity. Make personal connections with peers. Look for opportunities to work on projects to build out your influence within your department. Keep moving forward, producing in whatever capacity of work you can. Given enough time, you will elevate your performance away from your boss to slowly be seen as outside their circle.
Don’t Dwell
Ok so you see things aren’t perfect. You have issues with how somethings are run. Your boss sends mixed messages, staff do more than normal. Well that just shows you are part of 99% of all of us. Take comfort in the fact you are in a lousy situation with a good company. There is hope and with that.