Has anyone dealt with a boss who keeps changing their mind? Mine has been a bit of a flip-flopper lately. She’ll say one thing one day, then something totally different the next. It’s hard to make progress when the direction keeps shifting. I suspect it’s partially coming from above her, but still, it's frustrating. Part of me thinks I should just keep my head down and follow whatever the latest instruction is, but curious if others have found better ways to handle this?

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I've never really found a better method than just following along or OCCASIONALLY expressing a little pushback or questioning to try and get them to help you understand the change in direction. But if you push back too much you'll create distrust, so it's hard. Depending on your relationship with them, you might be able to have a 1:1 if it gets super excessive, and tell them how you're struggling with it

Totally agree! Gently asking for clarity helps, but it’s all about timing. A private 1:1 can really help if things get too confusing!

Some people are just wired that way, they're not too decisive and they tend to get shaky and change their mind a lot. The only way to handle it is to try to manage up a bit and attempt to make it clear that it's becoming difficult to follow direction if the direction keeps changing. Also, if there's obviously a better way of doing something, suggesting that. The one advantage you may have is that your ideas of how to do things could become the standard if you're deft in making suggestions.

That’s a great point! Managing up and gently pointing out how constant changes make things tricky is smart. Plus, offering your ideas might actually help set clearer standards.

My boss is a certified flip-flopper. I'm stealing that term btw! But he will change his mind within minutes. I have learned to wait at least half a day before starting whatever project he suggests because I already know a mod is coming. I don't try to change him; I just work around it and let him do him. I think he appreciates that honestly.

Haha certified flip-flopper is perfect - glad you’re stealing it! Waiting before jumping in sounds like a smart survival tactic. Sometimes just rolling with it is the best way to keep things smooth.

We’re going through a lot of changes department-wise, so I feel like things are constantly getting switched up. Not sure that it’s necessarily my manager’s doing though. Just kind of the circumstances we’re facing right now.

Totally get that! When the whole department’s shifting, it’s like trying to hit a moving target!

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