Conflict with Manager

It is deeply stressful when dealing with a difficult manager who overwhelms you and disrupts your peace. In these challenging times, it is helpful to keep the mindset, "This 'person,' this 'work' too shall pass." Organizations are like living organisms that constantly change, meaning your current hardship will eventually pass. Try not to react emotionally. Instead, adopt an attitude of placing a "brass bowl" in your heart to calmly accept and embrace the situation. Ultimately, the organization and the world will recognize who worked diligently with a good attitude, as reputation always remains.

To manage the relationship, try to shift your manager's focus entirely toward "work" through proactive communication. When Rep. Ko Dong-jin was a junior employee, he dealt with a senior who wasted mornings reading newspapers and making personal calls, which was highly stressful. To handle this, he greeted his senior loudly every morning and immediately shared a 40-to-50-second briefing using a "To Do List" prepared the night before. While it took about three months for the manager to finally show interest, this consistent attitude eventually opened their mind. By sharing your "To Do List" proactively, you can naturally inform your manager of how much work you are handling.

When communicating your heavy workload, avoid letting it sound like a complaint. Instead, "ask rather than argue" by requesting their professional advice. You can approach them politely and say, "Since my workload is quite high, I want to make sure I finish these tasks today. How should I prioritize them to be most effective? I would love to get your advice." This reframes the conversation around work, prompting your manager to realize your situation and think about how they can help, without harming their feelings. When conflicts arise, remember not to make enemies, stick strictly to facts, and avoid reacting immediately to attacks.

Lastly, do not carry this heavy mental burden alone. Find a trusted life senior or mentor inside or outside the workplace with whom you can share your frustrations. Simply pouring your heart out to someone who will listen can relieve your mental suffering and give you the energy to endure. If the conflict becomes too extreme and you consider leaving, try requesting a department transfer or changing your assigned tasks first rather than completely quitting, as human relations conflicts exist in every organization.