As if returning to work isn't hard enough, imagine returning to work and having a BAD manager.  That just makes the adjustment all the more difficult.

Most of us dread having bad managers.  In fact, we run in the opposite direction and avoid it at all costs.  It is almost akin to having a bad teacher.  We are worried we won't develop, our careers will sink, our reputations will be badly damaged and that, worst of all, we will have wasted years of our lives.

Wrong!

Bad managers are actually a good thing.  In fact, bad managers are a GREAT thing.  Why?  Because bad managers force people to grow, get out of their comfort box and increase their self-confidence. Bad managers - because, by definition, aren't able to perform their own roles well, force people to perform at the next level, assume more responsibility, and interact with more senior people.

Here's 3 ways Bad Managers can be a GREAT experience for your career: 1. Career Boost #1: The Bad Manager doesn't understand the company or the culture.

Onboarding is difficult, especially at the mid manager to executive level.  Companies typically do not onboard individuals at this level well.  They are expected to come in "up and running", ready to develop and execute strategy or a specific plan.  The expectations are high and the resources they are given are low.

One thing to keep in mind is that a "bad manager" is partially leadership's responsibility.  They hired him/her and they aren't training/correcting his/her behavior or actions.  If you find the bad manager isn't understanding the company or the culture, you may need to tell him or her.  This takes courage and tact and needs to be done well.  But if you do it - well - you will have grown as a leader yourself.  You are, in essence, providing someone else the tools and resources he/she needs to succeed.

2. Career Boost #2: The Bad Manager makes a HUGE mistake

You may need to fix the mistake.  This may require dealing directly with clients and leadership.  You may need to apologize, correct the problem, and implement steps to ensure the problem does not happen again.  This will also involve a conversation with the bad manager about why the mistake was made and how to avoid it in the future.

3. Career Boost #3: The bad manager isn't doing what leadership requested.

Because you understand the company, the culture, and what leadership wants, you recognize that the work being performed (or not performed) isn't what's expected.  Therefore you can either deliver the wrong thing and face the consequences or do the right thing.  To do the right thing, you need to meet with your bad manager and help steer him/her in the right direction.  This takes initiative, communication and negotiation skills.

If the bad manager continues to balk at what leadership really wants, you may decide to meet with more senior individuals.  In addition to leveraging your initiative, communication and negotiation skills, you are building your self-confidence and gaining exposure.  Other people will see how you have grown and developed, understand the company and the business and are trying to work with individuals under all sorts of scenarios.

Conclusion

Realizing you can do your manager's job is a huge career boost.  Telling your manager's boss that you learned this is an even bigger realization and advancement opportunity.  Explain what you learned in the process - how to deal with clients, accounts, products, services or other leaders.  You can use this circumstance to BUILD your reputation, ENHANCE your credibility and BOOST your career.