20 signs your boss secretly hates you

Mike Nudelman/Business Insider

We all want to be liked at work — especially by our bosses.

These are the people who make decisions regarding our promotions and pay raises, formally review our performances, and usually play a significant role in our overall happiness and success at work.

So if they don't like you, you'll want to know so you can try to turn things around. However, that's not always so easy.

"If your boss doesn't like you, they'll likely keep it to themselves, as they understand the need to keep the relationship professional and to not play favorites in the office," says Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage." "So the signs may be quite subtle — but they are usually easy to spot if you're looking for them."

 Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," says you don't have to be best friends with your manager, "but you can achieve optimal creativity and success if you feel that you're liked, supported, and respected by them." 

Here are 20 subtle signs your boss secretly hates you. Of course, a boss who does these things could just be a terrible leader. But if you notice you're the only victim of these behaviors, it probably means they don't like you.

Jacquelyn Smith contributed to this story.

If you feel like your boss doesn't like you, it could just be in your head. But it can also be true. If they treat you very differently than everyone else, you're probably not their favorite person. Trust your gut and continue looking for other signs if you have a strong feeling about this.

When they don't include you in big decisions related to your sphere of influence, it may be because your boss doesn't trust your opinion.

"When you're asked for input, it sends the message that you are valued, so not asking for input can, of course, send the opposite message: 'I really don't care what you think!'" says Kerr.

It's difficult for a boss who is angry to look you straight in the eye, says Taylor. "They're afraid that you may be able to detect hostility, so the path of least resistance is for them to look away or avoid being around you wherever possible."