7 ways to react when your boss disrespects you after making a mistake and you can’t afford to leave the Company

Imagine that you sent an incorrect invoice to a customer, and now they don't want to pay the difference.

You enter your boss's office completely frustrated and tell him the story. Instead of showing empathy, he gets out of control. He yells at you, insults you, and tries to make you feel like crap. You now feel not only frustrated, but also angry and impotent.

That kind of behavior is often enough to push you to leave your company, but that's not an option if, for example, you don't have enough savings.

So, here are 7 different ways employees deal with that situation. What's yours?

1 - Looking down and pretend it didn't happen

Unfortunately, this is the most common not only after we make a mistake but also when we are disrespected "for free."

You listen but don't say or do anything about it. The time takes care of the rest; some days later, it's as if nothing has happened. The reason why we adopt this option is to avoid conflict, but it hurts our self-esteem and our relationship with our boss (it's like an invitation to do it again).

It's comfortable in the short term, but it has terrible consequences in the long term.

2 - Disrespect them back right away

You are in a meeting, your boss shouts at you, you shout him back. Wonderful!!

Actually, your deep desire was to punch him in his face, but you compromised on "just" insulting him. Although I try to avoid this alternative, I admit that it may bring benefits to your relationship with him. After you two express your feelings to each other and release some inner pressure, you can still build something good.

The positive aspect is that both involved show honesty and authenticity, but I still think we can do better.

3 - Wait for the opportunity to get revenge

You don't say anything at that moment, but stay alert and create the scenario to make them pay.

At the moment, you accept that you made a mistake and pretend that nothing happened (or even that you deserve whatever your boss tells you). However, from that moment on, you try to discover any mistake from your boss so you have your chance. During that period, resentment grows inside you, making you feel miserable.

I'd say this is the worst alternative of all: You don't fix anything, but you only hurt yourself and your relationship with them.

4 - Ask for a transfer inside the company

You leave your boss (and the team), but stay at the company, keeping your job and salary.

This is a good alternative when the relationship is broken, and you can't or don't want to invest effort in fixing it. You need to align a lateral movement to a different area, which is often more viable than we think -every leader struggles to hire good people; if you have a good reputation, it's highly feasible for you to make the move.

Another hidden benefit is that you increase your skill set and, if you like it, can redirect your career. On the flip side, you may not want to leave your team if that's the job you love.

5 - Denunciate their behavior

It's becoming increasingly common for companies to foster employees to denounce when they feel harassed.

Unfortunately, this doesn't mean the company will do something about it. To make matters worse, some employees are unfair in their statements. But, if you feel insulted and escalate the topic honestly, most companies have specific channels to do it.

This is a good alternative not only to prevent it from happening again in the future but to receive objective advice from HR or some specialist inside the company.

6 - Discuss the event with them

You accept the situation at the moment, digest it, and knock on their door to have a mature, professional, and constructive conversation.

You reflect on what happened after the event. Take some time to articulate your feelings, what you expect from your boss, and your proposal to prevent this behavior from happening in the future. With that in mind, you discuss the best way to re-construct the relationship with them.

This option not only shows your character but also theirs. The result of the conversation and your boss's upcoming actions will help you to decide about your future.

7 - Avoid them and limit your effort

You ignore not only your boss but also your professional self.

As you are resentful and angry about what happened, you avoid any contact with your boss. Additionally, to hit them where it hurts, you limit your efforts to your strict responsibilities. You are reactive, don't support your colleagues, and deliver your tasks with just "fine" quality when you are used to excellence.

Although it may seem a logical reaction, adopting this alternative also hurts your self-esteem and reputation. So, I'd recommend that you avoid it.

Conclusion

Despite the alternative you choose in each circumstance, the stronger you are, the better results you will have.

This means that you are in a better position to decide if you have a good reputation, high self-esteem, valuable skills, and enough savings. You should build these pillars over time. If you wait until you are uncomfortable at your job, it's too late.

Stay strong, and don't let anyone disrespect you.