When Your Boss Is Indifferent

"Bosses who are indifferent neglect what you find important and do not care about inconveniencing you or others. This type of boss appears too disinterested to do anything. They are happy to let you decide the way to go and glad to let you take the blame if you fail. Some will not give you advice or opinions because they refuse to take risks. Generally, indifferent bosses are so involved with their own personal pursuits that they do not care enough to see that their subordinates have what is needed to perform well."

"What You Are Thinking I can't decide whether the boss won't give me any suggestions because she wants to play it safe or if she just does not care enough to make the effort. In the meantime, she is letting me drift, and I feel like I'm going in circles. Should I go ahead and make the decisions myself? How far should I stick my neck out in calling the shots that my boss ought to be calling?"

"First, determine whether the boss is simply forgetful. She may mean well, but cannot seem to remember to do what she promised. If so, the boss will regard your asking her about whatever she was supposed to do as your way of expressing interest. Try to extract a little direction. Even if it is like pulling teeth, at least make the attempt. Fill the leadership vacuum. If your boss neglects to point you in the right direction, move"

Indifferent bosses often neglect priorities that matter to subordinates and show little interest in guiding teams. They may allow employees to make decisions while remaining unwilling to give advice or assume risk, leaving staff to accept blame for failures. Employees commonly feel adrift and unsure when to act independently. Responses include assessing whether the boss is simply forgetful or deliberately disengaged, actively requesting direction, keeping the boss notified and updated, documenting conversations to create a paper trail, and filling the leadership vacuum by taking initiative while protecting oneself.

Read at Psychology Today