The best way to handle an authoritarian boss is to change your mindset and learn how to play by their rules so you can earn their respect and show them that you are a strong, smart, and competent employee.
According to Monster.com's Five Boss Personality Types, an authoritative boss, like Don Draper from Mad Men, "is the ultimate risk taker and has a flair for drama. On the downside, he can be a poor communicator. He's creative and perceptive, but he's also suspicious of others." Not to be mistaken with an autocratic boss, who is often a bully, or the pace-setting boss who is very demanding of his employees.
In this respect, an authoritative boss is not really that bad. He is just difficult to deal with because of his suspicious personality and his poor communication skills. Thus, most the problems that arise from this kind of leader is that his suspicious nature leads him to not trust his employees, so he's always thinking something is up or that they are lying to him and making excuses whenever things go wrong. Another source of difficulty is that his poor communication skills often leave his employees confused about his instructions, so they could feel like headless chickens who are clueless and don't know what to do.
So, how do you handle an authoritative boss?
The first thing you should do is to prevent or minimize the possibility of miscommunication. Make sure you get specific instructions. Ask questions to make sure you understand what your boss is saying and that you are interpreting his requests correctly. And always document your communication, as much as possible. Take meticulous notes, track all your email messages, and write down everything accurately. This way, when your boss complains that you didn't follow his instructions, you have something to refer to, without sounding like you're making excuses.
Second, be responsible for your actions. Always do your best, but when things go wrong, don't lie, don't make excuses, and don't blame someone else. Your boss may get angry, but he will respect you more for owning up to your mistakes. It will be much worse if you are caught in a lie or seen as making excuses. Authoritative bosses are suspicious, after all. So don't give him reasons to suspect you by being caught in a lie, or worse, blaming your co-worker for your own shortcomings.
Third, let your boss feel respected and in control. Authoritative bosses, unless they are incompetent, are likely to be successful in their fields. That's where they get their authority. They know they are smart and that they deserve and expect to be respected. So, it is important is to acknowledge how clever they are, show them that you are following their lead, and show them respect and kindness. Just don't be a suck up, because their suspicious nature will notice if you are faking the compliments.
Fourth, don't be a pushover. Don't be a yes man, when your boss is being unreasonable or too demanding. Learn to defend yourself, without being defensive or antagonistic. Correct your boss if he is wrong, but do it politely and in private. The goal is not to humiliate your boss, but to show that you are a strong person who also deserves respect.
Finally, don't take things personally. If your boss os being demanding or difficult, or if he is being blunt with you and using harsh words when giving feedback, don't take things as a personal attack. Authoritative bosses are often poor communicators, so just focus on the critique and see what you can learn from his feedback.
These are the things that employees can do when dealing with an authoritative boss. Just keep in mind that when dealing with authoritative bosses, it is a matter of finding ways to earn their respect and show your value as an employee, so you can get him on your side. This way, you can thrive even with an authoritative boss. Because believe it or not, in the scale of difficult bosses, you can do so much worse than an authoritative boss.
Hope this helps.
Sources:
- Cope with Five Boss Personality Types. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/boss-personality-types-hot-jobs
- How To Deal With An Authoritarian-Like Boss. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/03/02/how-to-deal-with-an-authoritarian-like-boss/#69d972972094
- How to Work with an Authoritarian Type Boss. https://work.chron.com/work-authoritarian-type-boss-20810.html