In the workplace, conflict can damage relationships, affect the quality of work, and reduce overall productivity. Conflict is particularly hard if it is with the CEO or your boss and they have an inappropriate management style. For example, if the leader comes from a hard-driving corporate world to a non-profit organization, their management style might not work.
What can you do?
Be diplomatic and tactful. While honesty is often the best policy, due to the sensitive nature of a conflict, simplyapproaching the CEO directly might hurt your position. You have to think strategically and choose your words carefully, even if you are at a “Breaking Point.”
Find an ally. Another strategy is to engage a leader/manager, whom the CEO trusts or favors, who is sympathetic to your situation. There is power in numbers. If your ally is creative and empathetic, they might to able to sway the CEO and resolve the conflict. Bringing in a third party works better in large organizations.
Find a balance between passivity and assertiveness. Too much of either can deepen the conflict and you will become increasingly dissatisfied.
Focus on their positive traits. Even if a CEO’s personality is disagreeable, they can still be effective in other parts of their job. What can you learn from them?
Be willing to compromise. “ Learn the wisdom of compromise for it is better to bend a little than to break.” (Jane Wells)