Ep 192: How to deal with a difficult boss with Jennifer McCanna

If you’ve ever found yourself dreading a meeting with your boss or wondering how to navigate a tricky relationship with them, you’re not alone. In this episode of Influence & Impact for Leaders, I’m joined again by the brilliant Jennifer McCanna – accredited coach, podcast host of My Emotional Work Life, and expert on navigating the emotional highs and lows of work. 

Together, we explore why our relationship with our boss has such a huge impact on how we feel at work, the different “types” of difficult bosses you might come across, and how to work more effectively with them – without losing your sanity or confidence. 

We cover: 

• The most common “types” of difficult boss 
• How to understand what’s driving your boss so you can partner with them 
• Simple tools to stay calm and grounded before tough meetings 
• Ways to make sure you’re not accidentally someone else’s “difficult boss” 

If you want to feel calmer, more in control and more influential in your relationship with your boss, this episode is packed with ideas and tools you can start using right away. 

This is Influence & Impact for Leaders, the podcast that helps leaders like you increase your impact and build a happy and high performing team. Each episode delivers focused, actionable insights you can implement immediately, to be better at your job without working harder. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

My Emotional Work Life Podcast 

Ep 03: The difficult boss survival guide | Jen McCanna 

Ep 02: Finding a job after a toxic work experience | Jen McCanna 

About Jen: 

Jen is sought after as a leadership coach who is often asked to help clients overcome periods of challenge and change, helping them rebuild their confidence and self-belief and realise their ambition. She supports leaders to manage their energy and navigate their emotions so they can feel calm and resourceful at work. 

Not only an experienced coach with the international coaching federation, Jen is a emotional freedom technique (EFT) practitioner, Resilience Dynamic practitioner and designs and delivers leadership development programmes and team building days for clients across the charity, corporate and public sectors. 

In her podcast – My Emotional Work Life – Jen and her guests share stories and strategies that help listeners navigate the rollercoaster that is working life. Check it episodes on difficult bosses, job hunting after a toxic work experiences and navigating the menopause at work. 

Ever experienced a toxic work relationship, badly handled restructure or the challenge of an HR process which rumbles on and on? Feel it knocked you for six a bit? Then Jen is your coach! 

Find My Emotional Work Life here: https://podfollow.com/my-emotional-work-life 

And her website is full of resources designed to make the lives of busy leaders easier  

You can follow Jen @jen_the_leadership_coach on Instagram or here on LinkedIn. 

Work with Carla: 

• Impactful Teams Scorecard – Discover how your team measures up and how you can grow your team’s impact. 
• 1:1 Leadership Coaching with Carla – get support to help you get your voice heard at work and develop your career. Book a discovery call 

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Mentioned in this episode:

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