What should you do if your boss is a pedantic micromanager of the worst order and a strategy dunce who hitherto has added little value to your career? If you are unlucky and have a hapless Mr Bean or a snake oil salesman as a boss, whose behaviour and competence level have long since ossified with no prospect of change, then realistically your only option is to leave the organisation.

But what if your boss is more like Mr Magoo, strategically shortsighted but not totally without hope (i.e., not averse to humble self-reflection or a reimbursable trip to the optician), and you would rather stay at the organisation than move on? What can you do to help bring out their inner Elon Musk or Peter Drucker?

Such managers pose a challenge to you and the organisation, as they can harm your career, team morale, and overall productivity. Addressing the issue is, therefore, crucial. Here are steps to effectively deal with bad managers:

Be a Strategic Thinker Yourself

• Lead by Example: Demonstrate strategic thinking in your own work. This includes anticipating future challenges, thinking long-term, and aligning your tasks with broader organisational goals. Your boss may start to recognise and appreciate the value of this approach.

• Identify Opportunities: Look for areas where strategic thinking is needed and proactively propose solutions. This might involve identifying new market trends, suggesting process improvements, or recommending long-term projects.

Support with Data & Analysis

• Present Data-Driven Insights: Provide your boss with well-researched data and analysis to support strategic decisions. If they tend to focus on short-term issues, data can help highlight the importance of long-term planning and broader impacts.

• Create Scenarios: Develop different scenarios for potential future outcomes based on current trends. This can help your boss see the bigger picture and understand the need for strategic thinking.

Communicate Effectively

• Translate Strategy into Tangible Actions: If your boss struggles with abstract thinking, try to translate strategic ideas into concrete actions and immediate benefits. Show how long-term plans can lead to short-term gains.

• Ask Strategic Questions: Encourage strategic thinking by asking your boss questions that prompt them to consider the long-term implications of decisions. For example, “How does this decision align with our long-term goals?” or “What are the potential risks we should consider?”

Encourage Strategic Discussions

• Facilitate Strategic Conversations: Create opportunities for strategic discussions within your team. This could be through dedicated meetings, brainstorming sessions, or informal discussions where long-term goals and visions are considered.

• Involve the Team: Encourage team members to contribute strategic ideas. This can help build a culture of strategic thinking even if your boss isn’t naturally inclined in that direction.

Provide Constructive Feedback

• Offer Suggestions Respectfully: If you feel comfortable, you might gently offer feedback or suggestions to your boss about the importance of strategic thinking. Frame it in a way that emphasises how it could help the team and the organisation achieve better outcomes.

• Highlight the Benefits: Point out examples where strategic thinking has led to success, either within your organisation or in similar companies. This can help your boss see the value in adopting a more strategic approach.

Build Alliances with Strategic Thinkers

• Collaborate with Others: If there are other strategic thinkers within the organisation, work closely with them. Together, you can help influence the direction of the organisation and compensate for any gaps in strategic thinking from your boss.

• Seek Mentorship: If possible, find a mentor within the organisation who excels at strategic thinking. They can provide you with guidance and support as you navigate the challenges of working under a less strategic boss.

Focus on Execution

• Be a Strong Executor: Sometimes, even without a strategic vision, organisations can succeed through strong execution. If your boss is more operationally focused, complement their strengths by ensuring that the team excels at implementing strategies, even if those strategies are developed elsewhere.

Plan for Your Own Development

• Enhance Your Strategic Skills: Continue developing your own strategic thinking skills through training, reading, and practice. This not only helps you in your current role but also prepares you for future leadership positions where strategic thinking will be essential.

• Consider Career Goals: If you find that the lack of strategic thinking is significantly hindering your ability to grow or succeed in your role, it may be worth considering your long-term career goals and whether a change of environment might be beneficial.

Conclusion

Working under a boss who lacks strategic thinking can be challenging, but it also presents an opportunity for you to step up and add value. By leading with strategic thought, supporting decisions with data, fostering strategic discussions, and enhancing your own skills, you can help guide your colleagues around you and contribute to the long-term success of your organisation. If you approach the situation thoughtfully and constructively, you may even influence your boss to become more strategic over time.