I’ve met some loony tunes over the years. But I’m convinced that almost every bad boss situation can improve—even just slightly—with some proactive work on your part.

Sure, they should know better—they’re the boss, right? Perhaps. But do you want to be right, or happier at work?

Use these five tips to start taming a bad boss today:

1) Get your asks together. If you need additional resources or tools, or you want to attend training that will make you a better leader, you need to articulate a solid argument. Come to the table with data, not emotion.

2) Communicate frequently in bulleted summaries. It might feel like overkill on your end, and if it is, your boss will tell you. But I’ve never minded my team keeping me informed in ways that are easy to digest. Find a coding system that works for both of you.

3) Follow the “no blindside” rule. If you’ve got bad news, be sure your boss hears it from you. The DARN approach can help you deliver bad news gracefully.

4) Ask how you can make their job easier. Chances are, your boss is dealing with pressures you don’t fully understand. Ask how you can be most helpful—and be prepared with a good answer when they turn the tables and ask how they can best help you.

5) Let it go. Easier than it sounds, but harboring resentment never does a relationship any good. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Forgive as needed, then try again.

Karin Hurt, CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, has more than two decades of experience in sales, customer service and human resources.