When It’s Not Your Career, It’s Your Boss
It’s not uncommon to feel stuck, unmotivated, or dissatisfied in your career. But before you start questioning whether you’ve chosen the wrong field or need a drastic career change, it’s worth considering that the source of your frustration may not be the job itself—it might be your boss.
Ineffective leadership can cast a long shadow over your professional experience. Even when you’re in the right role or working within a field you’re passionate about, a bad boss can lead you to feel disengaged, undervalued, and uncertain about your career path. Often, the problem isn’t your career choice at all, but rather the leadership style you’re working under.
A good leader can inspire, motivate, and guide their team to success, but an incompetent leader can do the opposite—draining your energy, stifling your growth, and making you question your place in the organisation.
1. Blocking Your Growth
Good leaders create opportunities for growth and development, while incompetent leaders often do the opposite. Whether it’s by taking credit for your work, failing to provide mentorship, or deliberately holding you back from promotions, a bad boss can stifle your career progress. When you feel like there’s no room for advancement or personal development, dissatisfaction with your career is inevitable.
2. Fostering a Negative Work Environment
A leader sets the tone for the team and the work environment. If you’re constantly dealing with negative energy, conflict, or unrealistic expectations, it’s easy to associate that negativity with your career. But in many cases, the problem is less about the job itself and more about the unsafe atmosphere created by poor leadership.
3. Causing Burnout
Toxic bosses often push their employees to the brink, either by overloading them with work or placing unrealistic expectations on their performance. This constant pressure can lead to burnout, making you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from your work. When burnout sets in, it’s easy to conclude that your career isn’t right for you. But in many cases, it’s the boss’s behavior—rather than the career itself—that’s the root cause of burnout.
Shifting the Focus: Is It the Job or the Boss?
When you find yourself feeling dissatisfied or disengaged, the natural reaction is to start questioning whether you’re in the right career. While career changes can be necessary and fulfilling, it’s important to first consider whether the dissatisfaction stems from your current leadership rather than the job itself.
The best thing to do is to gain clarity on the true cause of your dissatisfaction:
Reflect on Past Jobs or Bosses
Think back to previous roles you’ve had, particularly those where you felt fulfilled or successful. What was the leadership like in those positions? Did you thrive under different management styles? This can help you identify whether your dissatisfaction is related to the current leadership environment rather than your career choice.
Separate Job Tasks from Leadership Challenges
Consider which aspects of your day-to-day work bring you joy or a sense of accomplishment. Are the tasks themselves satisfying, but the work environment stressful or negative? If the work itself aligns with your strengths and interests, the problem may be the boss, not the job.
Seek Feedback from Trusted Colleagues
Sometimes we need an external perspective to see the situation clearly. Talk to colleagues who have worked under different leaders. Have they noticed a change in your attitude or performance since working with your current boss? Their insights can help you differentiate between career dissatisfaction and the effects of poor leadership.
Focus on Your Long-Term Career Goals
Revisit your long-term career aspirations. Are you still passionate about the direction you’re heading, or have you lost sight of that passion due to the toxic work environment? If your goals still resonate with you, it’s likely that the leadership—rather than the career path—is the issue.
Taking Back Control
If you’ve identified that a toxic boss is at the root of your dissatisfaction, it’s important to take steps to regain control over your career:
Set Boundaries: Toxic leaders often overstep boundaries, so it’s essential to protect your mental health and work-life balance. Set clear limits on your time and emotional investment.
Document Everything: If the situation escalates or if you’re considering taking your concerns to HR, document key interactions, including any unreasonable demands, inappropriate behaviour, or incidents that affect your performance.
Network Strategically: Build relationships with other leaders or mentors in your organisation. If a promotion or internal move is possible, having strong allies can make a difference.
Consider Your Exit Strategy: If the toxicity is deeply ingrained and you see no path forward, start planning your next career move. Update your resume, connect with recruiters, and look for roles in healthier work environments.
Bad leadership can distort your perception of your career and make you believe that you’re in the wrong field. But often, it’s not the job—it’s the boss. By recognising the signs of toxic leadership and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can reignite your passion for your career and make informed decisions about your next steps. Before you decide to change careers, consider whether a new boss or work environment might be the key to unlocking the career satisfaction you’ve been missing.