Your job plays a big part in your personal happiness. That’s why many people spend years of their lives pursuing degrees and mastering skills that will enable them to live out their dreams. But, what happens when your dream job comes with a supervisor that’s intent on stealing your happily ever after? Poor supervisor relationships rank pretty high on the list of reasons employees opt to leave their job. But, leaving is not the only remedy to the problem. If you’re feeling depleted by a boss that’s hard to handle, here are some tips that may help you turn things around. Take inventory – After a while, you can feel so frustrated that you don’t even know what’s bugging you. Is it just a bad boss or could it have something to do with your performance, or perhaps a past misunderstanding? Is it possible, your supervisor is under a great deal of stress and it has nothing to do with you at all? Make a list of the items that are eating away at you and analyze each one to see if there is something you can do differently to mend the situation. Redirect your focus – A change in focus can do a world of good. Plunge into your work and make it your goal to do the best job possible. Set goals for yourself and when you achieve them, celebrate your accomplishments. Find your fulfillment in your work rather than worrying about what’s going on with your supervisor. Your increased performance may just win their favor! Seek support – Everyone needs encouragement, especially when the individual you report to is doing just the opposite. Seek out a mentor in your organization that can provide you with some insight, encouragement and support. Maybe you just need to get things off your chest and a listening ear is what’s best. Whether you find support in a mentor, spouse or friend, that individual can be a great source of encouragement in the midst of your challenging circumstances. Talk to your supervisor – In some cases, the best remedy to a bad supervisory relationship is to sit down in a non-confrontational manner and discuss your concerns with that individual. Schedule a meeting with your supervisor and inquire about the things that are troubling you and ask them for their insight. Be careful not to put them on the defense. Instead, focus on what you can do differently to make things work better. You may discover your boss had no idea you were feeling the way you do, or that he or she had something to do with it. Just approach the conversation with professionalism, humility and sincerity. Transfer to another area – If all of your efforts fail but you want to remain with the company, begin looking for another position within the organization. If you keep things positive, you can always transfer out of your misery into a more respectful and positive reporting relationship. Resign – If you’ve done all you can but you can’t make things work, resigning is always an option. Just keep things quiet as you embark on your job search. It’s always best if you find a new job before you leave your old one—and it looks much better on an application! Are you being pushed out the door by a difficult boss? Take action and implement some of these ideas. If it turns the tides of your job troubles, you’ll be glad you did!