How do you handle a boss that is always cursing and jerking if you didn't meet the sales target?

Question

I work in a comissions only sales department. I worked for 12 years as a payroll clerk until I burned out & decided to move forward in my professional life. But my new boss use mean language and cursing in the meetings. I'd tried to look for another job w/o success. While I did good money in the past, the new quotas are averwhelming.

Answer 1

Your boss sounds like he is lacking good leadership skills. A good leader inspires people and motivates them. Unfortunalely, many sales managers tend to micromanage and belittle their staff, thus destroying morale and motivation. You will find this almost everywhere in sales careers. Maybe you should change jobs. If that is not feasable, then force yourself to be more social with your boss. Talk about topics that don't involve the job. SOmetimes, when you build rapport with your boss, they tend to lighten up. Also, if you have any ideas for incentives or anything else that might motivate people to meet goals, then you should either talk about those (and accept that they will probably be rejected but later used as the boss's 'new ideas') or ask if you can create a workshop with your coworkers, and do some teambuilding stuff. For that, you ask everyone to meet at a pizza joint or bowling alley, and spend the evening playing together, but make sure to set aside a short time to discuss sales strategies. This gives people the opportunity to spout out ideas, grievances, or common issues people face, in an environment where they are not being evaluated. It's also good for morale. A boss with better leadership skills would have thought of this already, but if not, then you should. You don't need anyone's permission to organize a group outing. Just make sure to invite the boss, too, but do not let him dominate the course of events. Keep it social. And do not exculde anyone. Remember all 'problems' and 'obstacles' are opportunities in disguise. They are challenges to overcome something, improve something, and learn something. And in your own mind, change "I can't" to "I am not willing to". That forces a new perspective.....

Answer 2

It's a shame that we live in this society where you MUST be number ! at all times,be first,be the best. Guess what folks? You can't be all those things all the time. Sometimes you may end up as number 2 or 3. That's what's wrong with businesses in our country today. The conglomerates have taken over the small mom and pop operations. You didn't care about sales. What mattered was looking your customer in the eye and giving that customer the best product or service for the money they pay.
Oh, your boss is going to have a heart attack soon if he keeps that up.

Answer 3

First of all, do you have, in writing, what all of your sales objectives are, or do they change at the drop of a hat? You should have everything in writing.

There are lots of "mean and cursing" bosses in this world. If he is foul but is foul to everyone, then you have no course of action, unless you and everyone else in the group agree to collectively comment on his rudeness. That is to say, when he says something foul, have everyone say "I'm sorry, those words are inappropriate in an office environment, and this creates a hostile environment for us to work in" - you need to have a quorum of folks on board with you, or you'll get nailed.

You can go over his head, but you'll need to have a group of individuals complain, or you'll be seen as sour grapes and may lose your job. If you are any minority, female, Asian, gay, and any of the language offends that minority,, then you can file with your state labor office (after you complain to your upper management)- this is a last resort, because you will probably be targeted forever (but they'll be scared to get rid of you).

Answer 4

Which country do you work in?

I think sales is like that and bosses become really agressive.

Some companies have internal policies and even consider bad language as a form of harrassment but that is not the case with all companies.

Answer 5

You need to set some boundaries.

Be firm, look him in the eyes, with confidence

iand tell him that you are a person who deserves

hell, demands respect. But do this in a nice way:)

Answer 6

keep looking for another job , then report him.

Answer 7

try harder to meet your goals