Your Office Coach: Have compassion for ailing boss

Our boss has a terminal illness that causes her to have memory issues. "Emily" was not a very good manager in the best of times, but her declining health has the department floundering. Although Emily could retire with a pension, for some reason she wants to keep working.

Most of us have tried to work around Emily's deficiencies, but some people are using this as an excuse to goof off. Key projects have now been put on hold, so it feels like we're just treading water. We would like to get past this management problem and be a productive team again. What should we do?

First, instead of harboring resentment towards your ailing boss, you might try to muster up some compassion. Emily undoubtedly has her reasons, both practical and personal, for choosing to remain employed during this difficult time. Since you aren't walking in her shoes, make an effort to be less judgmental.

Viewed another way, this "management problem" is actually a leadership opportunity. When faced with a crisis, a team of mature professionals should be able to pull together, make collaborative decisions and complete critical projects. But if some members are neither mature nor professional, then the natural leaders must try to guide the group.

If your slackers seem unlikely to respond to informal leadership, consider meeting with management and suggesting the appointment of a temporary team lead. This person would not replace Emily, but assist her with specific supervisory tasks. That might not only reduce Emily's burden, but also get those key projects off the back burner.

Marie G. McIntyre, a workplace coach, is the author of "Secrets to Winning at Office Politics." Send in questions and get free coaching tips at http://www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter officecoach.

This story was originally published March 12, 2016 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Your Office Coach: Have compassion for ailing boss ."