Five ways to navigate this frustrating — yet common — experience.
September 27, 2024
Mint Images – David Schultz/Getty Images
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Working for a leader who always changes their mind is a maddening yet common experience. When the strategy is perpetually changing, it’s challenging to be enthusiastic about the strategy du jour. When rework is viewed as inevitable, high effort is difficult to justify. A leader who constantly changes their mind will often leave behind an emotional wake of resentment. While you can’t control your boss’s behavior, five strategies can help you decrease the number of unwelcome pivots.
A client of mine, Rudi, works in marketing for a technology firm. His team had a goal to increase inbound leads via social media. Rudi, his boss, and some of their colleagues had a long brainstorming session, eventually reaching the conclusion they should be shooting more short-form videos to share on social channels.
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Elizabeth Lotardo is a researcher and consultant who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. She is the author of Leading Yourself and holds a master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Connect with Elizabeth here.
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New!
HBR Learning
Managing Your Boss Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Managing Your Boss. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Build a productive partnership with your most important stakeholder.
