How to Deal with Arrogant and Younger Boss?

Question

How to Deal With Young and Arrogant Boss?

I recently accepted a position at a company. I am already starting to look. The boss is 10 years younger than me. The CEO is only 10 years older tham me. The boss never worked anywhere else. He came to this place straight out of college. He isn't even 28 years old.

He knows his field but doesn't know how to manage or lead. I was hired to manage a department under him. I learned they lied about the job when I started. It really wasn't what they described it to be. He just doesn't understand how the 'real world' works and thinks he is the best thing invented since sliced bread. He is impatient, doesn't explain things, arrogant. He is concerned with style over substance.

His is the protege of the CEO who is equally arrogant, acts like he has ADHD, and doesn't listen.

How do I deal with these people? Is my best hope that I get canned and they don't contest unemployment? It's hard to look for a job when you are brand new.

1 minute ago - 3 days left to answer.

Additional Details

16 seconds ago

Sorry. I selected Careers&Employment for this question and somehow it got into this category.

0 seconds ago

Answer 1

Deal with absolute professionalism. No matter how his inexperience and naivete galls you, don't let it show.

Address your needs to do the job at hand. When he doesn't explain sufficiently, you need to say in a nonjudgmental tone that your work experience means you know what the task entails but that you lack sufficient information to perform it. Tell him exactly and specifically what you need, in neutral terms that don't make him feel stupid for not having provided it.

It sounds like both the CEO and his WonderBoy may face a rude awakening soon enough, since it's probably very difficult for any productive work to be done under their command.

In your shoes, I'd be seeking another job now, interviewing on my lunch hour, not waiting to be fired. When potential employers ask why you're looking when you've just started over at Company X, you can explain that your actual duties do not mesh with the job description under which you were hired. Therefore the fit is not good, and you're seeking a job where you can use the skills you've got which are only growing rusty in your present position.

Answer 2

There's an old saying in the business world -- the fish stinks from the head down. Meaning, because the CEO is an ******, he's likely to hire ******* and/or others will take their cues from him.

Ignorant and arrogant is a hard combination to deal with, at work. One way is to use your boss to rubber-stamp decisions you've already made. When you're confronted with a problem, instead of applying solution A (which is obviously the correct one) over solution B (dumb idea) go to Mr. Ignoramas and say, "Here's the problem. We can do A, or we can do B. It's your decision. Which is better?" By giving him an obvious solution to a problem he has no idea how to solve, you prevent him from blaming you in the future.

As far as them having ADHD and never explaining, you're going to have to be the reasonable adult who plans things, for the whole office. Just ask questions and remain calm, no matter how juvenile they are.

And don't let any of this detract you from your job search! When an interviewer asks why you are looking for a job after only 2 months, or whatever, simply say that the position wasn't what you were led to believe. Don't elaborate and don't say anything bad about your current management team. It looks like you can't get along with people.