How to support my boss?

[Millytint]

My lovely and talented boss is being bullied by her boss.

Examples include:not having a work plan, issues being trivialised, not being listened to, mocked in front of other managers.

She really is very good at her job, generally well liked and is respected by her direct reports (me and four others) as well as our direct reports (probably around 20 people).

I want to support her in whatever way I can, but also don't want big boss, to feel rallied against either as she is not intrinsically a bad person, just out of her depth and so throwing her weight around.

Any thoughts? I can see my boss losing some of her sparkle, and she is really quite unhappy.

[Unexpected]

It is admirable that you want to support your boss but, apart from continuing to do your job well, I think it is up to your boss to tackle this herself.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

Sorry Fab, that'd be a patronising thing to do. It would also look very odd. It's a workplace, not a school.
Basically OP, just keep out unless asked. Absolutely not your business or place. And would also be asking for a target.

[Millytint]

Thank you for replies.

She regularly seeks feedback around her own performance, but I do worry about being patronising.

And does talk to me about her situation with her boss, but doesn't specifically ask for help with the bullying beyond the listening ear.

[EBearhug]

Does she acknowledge that it's bullying? If so, I'd mention the usual stuff, like making a note of every incident; time, date & summary.

A manager should know where things like your code of conduct and grievance policies are. Do you have access to courses on things like assertiveness or dealing with difficult people? That sort of thing could give her strategies for ways to respond.

But in the end, it is her problem, and she needs to deal with it. You can't do it for her.

[FabulousFudge]

Buy her the book Bully In Sight so that she can begin to make sense of what is happening to her.

[Millytint]

Yes she does acknowledge that it is bullying, and has seen same manager treat others in similar ways. But this person is the top of the tower locally...so support is in another location.

we do have access to those kind of resources, and we (are both) pretty experienced. Dealing with challenging behaviours is part of our daily reality (without wanting to name the sector) but it just feels prickly...

I guess all I can do is be good at my job and a solid player she can rely on....she knows where all the stuff is, it's probably about committing to taking action or not.

You are right, she has to do it herself.... But I do want to run to HR and say ITS NOT FAIR. Promise I won't of course....