How to Work for a Boss Who Always Changes Their Mind

How to Work for a Boss Who Always Changes Their Mind

1 minute, 18 seconds Read

Five ways to navigate this frustrating — yet common — experience.

September 27, 2024

Mint Images – David Schultz/Getty Images


Post


  • Post


  • Share


  • Annotate


  • Save


  • Print

  • Working for a leader who always changes their mind is a maddening yet common experience. When the strategy is perpetually changing, it’s challenging to be enthusiastic about the strategy du jour. When rework is viewed as inevitable, high effort is difficult to justify. A leader who constantly changes their mind will often leave behind an emotional wake of resentment. While you can’t control your boss’s behavior, five strategies can help you decrease the number of unwelcome pivots.

    A client of mine, Rudi, works in marketing for a technology firm. His team had a goal to increase inbound leads via social media. Rudi, his boss, and some of their colleagues had a long brainstorming session, eventually reaching the conclusion they should be shooting more short-form videos to share on social channels.

    New!

    HBR Learning

    Managing Your Boss Course

    Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Managing Your Boss. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

    Build a productive partnership with your most important stakeholder.

    Start Course

    Learn More & See All Courses


    • Elizabeth Lotardo is a researcher and consultant who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. She is the author of Leading Yourself and holds a master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Connect with Elizabeth here.


    Post


  • Post


  • Share


  • Annotate


  • Save


  • Print

  • Read More

    Similar Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *