The five worst types of boss to work with: Career expert reveals how to handle a bad manager - from the 'night owl' who contacts you at all hours to the 'ghost' who offers no guidance

• e-mail

Many of us have had to work for outlandish and quirky bosses who wreak havoc on our schedules.

Now LinkedIn has announced a series of guides to help people learn to work better with difficult bosses, from the silent ones to those who just keep changing moods.

Charlotte Davies, the site's career expert said: 'Most of us will have had some challenging experiences with a boss at some point in our careers. 

'A bad manager can not only disrupt our work but can also seriously hinder career progression, so it's important to know how to deal with them and when to ask for help.

'All managers and workplaces are different, but overall the best strategy for dealing with any issues with your boss is being clear and honest about your needs and feelings. 

'You can keep it respectful and professional without letting it fester - it's always best to address any issues as early as possible.'

Here, FEMAIL reveals five types of difficult bosses, where to find them and how to deal with their management styles... 

A micromanaging boss feels the need to control every aspect of your work and never lets you make decisions or own projects without running it by them first, while the night owl boss messages you at unsavoury hours about work, expecting a quick reply (Stock image)

THE GHOST BOSS 

This is the boss who leaves you to do all the work, providing you with little to no guidance. 

One minute they'll be right by your side and the next minute, they'll be 'in a meeting', on 'do not disturb' or simply uncontactable. 

Either way, whatever you've been working on, you're on your own.

Where you'll find them: Anywhere else but online when you need them. Ghost Bosses have been known to appear only when their own boss is around…

TIP: Having an absent manager can be a very frustrating and alienating experience. 

While dealing with a ghost boss can be tricky, it can also be an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills by taking charge of the situation and show initiative in running projects while your boss is nowhere to be found. 

Be specific with your boss around where you need more guidance, and pick your battles - for example if there's an important project coming up. 

It can also be a good idea to find a mentor within your company who you can go to for career advice if you feel you're not getting this from your boss.

THE NIGHT OWL BOSS

The night owl boss messages you at unsavoury hours about work, expecting a quick reply. 

Even when you've left the office or closed your laptop at home with every intention of switching off, there's always 'one more thing' they want help with. 

The end of your working day may be 6pm but your boss will just be getting started.

Where you'll find them: In your DMs, missed calls or WhatsApp late at night, or lurking in the shadows of Slack or Microsoft Teams.

TIP: We've all had to work late as a one-off for an important meeting or presentation, but if your boss regularly tries to reach you outside working hours, you know something isn't right. 

Setting clear boundaries and pushing back in these scenarios is difficult, but crucial if you want to avoid burnout further down the line. 

Make sure to set these boundaries early on into your career and clearly communicate your limits.

Careers expert Charlotte Davies (pictured) from employment service LinkedIn said the best way to deal with a tough bough is to be honest with them about your needs

THE MULTIMOOD BOSS

They can be calm and measured one minute, then angry and irrational the next. 

Just like Jekyll and Hyde, you never know which mood to expect and what will set them off. 

Particularly hard to work with, the multimood boss can leave you feeling on edge during the working day, unsure as to whether you're doing a good job, or if it's just their mood.

Where you'll find them: Singing your praises from the rooftops, or giving you a very public telling-off.

TIP: No matter the circumstances, rudeness is never the solution. 

Research by LinkedIn found 60 per cent of UK professionals said reaching out to a colleague or boss for an open conversation when feeling angry helped them to calm down. 

Try to stay relaxed and diffuse the situation by asking for a private meeting, where you can resolve any issues they may have and address how their behaviour is making you feel. 

If this is a continuous problem rather than a one-off outburst, and your boss is harassing or bullying you, make sure to report this to HR or a senior member of staff.

THE SILENT BOSS

They silently move meetings and deadlines around and edits your work without consulting you. 

Their changes leave you questioning everything and you feel constantly confused and on the back foot.

Where you'll find them: While you will rarely see or speak to them in person, beware of the silent boss lurking in shared documents and calendars.

TIP: Deadline changes and diary shifts without your knowledge can be extremely frustrating. 

Openly communicating with your boss and letting them know how their behaviour affects you is key. 

It's possible that there's an external source, such as a client or senior stakeholder, who is moving the goalposts while your manager tries to keep up, so understanding their perspective can help realign your common goals.

Having a ghost boss means one minute they'll be right by your side and the next minute, they'll be 'in a meeting', on 'do not disturb' or simply uncontactable (Stock image)

THE MICROMANAGING BOSS

The type of boss who feels the need to control every aspect of your work and never lets you make decisions or own projects without running it by them first. 

'Could I have a look at that before you send it on' is a sentence you'll hear every hour with this boss. 

And what you thought was going to be a five minute end-of-day task will keep you at your desk into the evening if your boss has anything to do with it.

Where you'll find them: The micromanaging boss will find you. You'll never have to worry about finding them.

TIP: Being micromanaged at work is a very de-motivating experience. 

More often than not, this stems from a manager's own insecurity about letting go. 

This can be a hard pattern to break, but setting clear goals and sharing progress updates can help. 

For example, sending a weekly written update at a time that suits you will help you to take back some agency and demonstrate that you're capable of being trusted to run projects, while also helping with your career development.