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55
Whatever strategy you choose, deal with the bully as soon as pos-
sible, because “once a dominant/ subservient relationship is established,
it becomes difficult to loosen,” warns industrial psychologist James
Fisher. Fisher also suggests confronting your boss behind closed doors
whenever possible, to avoid being disrespectful. If your boss continues
to be overbearing, try these strategies from psychologist Leonard
Felder, author of Does someone at work treat you badly?
To keep your composure while the boss is screaming, repeat a
calming phrase to yourself, such as “Ignore the anger. It isn’t yours.”
Focus on a humorous aspect of your boss’s appearance. If
she’s got a double chin, watch her flesh shake while she’s yammering.
“By realizing that even the most intimidating people are vulnerable, you
can more easily relax,” explains Felder.
Wait for your boss to take a breath, then try this comeback
line: “I want to hear what you’re saying. You’ve got to slow down.”
Finally, never relax with an abusive boss, no matter how charm-
ing he or she can be, says Stanley Bing. “The bully will worm hir or her
way into your heart as a way of positioning your face under his foot.”
The Workaholic
“Some bosses don’t know the difference between work and
play,” says Nancy Ahlrichs, vice president of client services at the Indi-
anapolis office of Right Associates, an international outplacement firm.
“If you want to reach them at night or on a Saturday, just call the of-
fice.” Worse, such a boss invades your every waking hour, making it all
but impossible to separate your own home life from the office.
Ahlrichs advises setting limits on your availability. Make sure the
boss knows you can be reached in a crisis, but as a matter of practice go
home at a set time. If he responds angrily, reassure him that you will
tackle any project first thing in the morning. Get him to set the priori-
ties, so you can decide which tasks can wait.
If you have good rapport with the boss, says Mardy Grothe, con-
sider discussing the problem openly. Your goal is to convince him that
just as he needs to meet deadlines, you have personal responsibilities
that are equally important.
56
The Jellyfish
“My boss hires people with the assumption that we all know our
jobs,” says a woman who works for a small firm in New England. “Un-
fortunately, he hates conflict. If someone makes a mistake, we have to
tiptoe around instead of moving to correct it, so we don't hurt anyone's
feelings.”
Her boss is a jellyfish. He has refused to establish even a basic
pecking order in his office. As a result, a secretary sat on important
correspondence for over a month, risking a client's tax write-offs. Be-
cause no one supervises the firm's support staff, the secretary never
received a reprimand, and nobody was able to prevent such mishaps
from recurring. The jellyfish simply can't take charge because he's
afraid of creating conflicts.
So “you must take charge,” suggests Lee Colby, a Minneapolis-
based management consultant. “Tell the jellyfish: This is what I think I
ought to be doing. What do you think?' You are taking the first step,
without stepping on your boss's toes.”
Building an indecisive supervisor's confidence is another good
strategy. For example, if you can supply hard facts and figures, you can
then use them to justify any course you recommend – and gently ease
the jellyfish into taking a firmer position.
The Perfectionist
When Nancy Ahlrichs was fresh out of college, she landed her
first full-time job, supervising the advertising design and layout of a
small-town newspaper. On deadline day, the paper's irritable general
manager would suddenly appear over her shoulder, inspecting her work
for errors. Then he'd ask a barrage of questions, ending with the one
Ahlrichs dreaded most: “Are you sure you'll make deadline?”
“I never missed a single deadline,” Ahlrichs says, “yet every
week he'd ask that same question. I felt belittled by his lack of confi-
dence in me.”
Ironically, the general manager was lowering the staff's produc-
tivity. To paraphrase Voltaire, the perfect is the enemy of the good.
According to psychiatrist Allan Mallinger, co-author with Jeannette
DeWyze of Too Perfect: When Being in Control Gets Out of Control,
“the perfectionist's overconcern for thoroughness slows down every-
one's work. When everything has to be done perfectly, tasks loom lar-
Whatever strategy you choose, deal with the bully as soon as pos- The Jellyfish sible, because “once a dominant/ subservient relationship is established, “My boss hires people with the assumption that we all know our it becomes difficult to loosen,” warns industrial psychologist James jobs,” says a woman who works for a small firm in New England. “Un- Fisher. Fisher also suggests confronting your boss behind closed doors fortunately, he hates conflict. If someone makes a mistake, we have to whenever possible, to avoid being disrespectful. If your boss continues tiptoe around instead of moving to correct it, so we don't hurt anyone's to be overbearing, try these strategies from psychologist Leonard feelings.” Felder, author of Does someone at work treat you badly? Her boss is a jellyfish. He has refused to establish even a basic To keep your composure while the boss is screaming, repeat a pecking order in his office. As a result, a secretary sat on important calming phrase to yourself, such as “Ignore the anger. It isn’t yours.” correspondence for over a month, risking a client's tax write-offs. Be- Focus on a humorous aspect of your boss’s appearance. If cause no one supervises the firm's support staff, the secretary never she’s got a double chin, watch her flesh shake while she’s yammering. received a reprimand, and nobody was able to prevent such mishaps “By realizing that even the most intimidating people are vulnerable, you from recurring. The jellyfish simply can't take charge because he's can more easily relax,” explains Felder. afraid of creating conflicts. Wait for your boss to take a breath, then try this comeback So “you must take charge,” suggests Lee Colby, a Minneapolis- line: “I want to hear what you’re saying. You’ve got to slow down.” based management consultant. “Tell the jellyfish: This is what I think I Finally, never relax with an abusive boss, no matter how charm- ought to be doing. What do you think?' You are taking the first step, ing he or she can be, says Stanley Bing. “The bully will worm hir or her without stepping on your boss's toes.” way into your heart as a way of positioning your face under his foot.” Building an indecisive supervisor's confidence is another good strategy. For example, if you can supply hard facts and figures, you can The Workaholic then use them to justify any course you recommend – and gently ease “Some bosses don’t know the difference between work and the jellyfish into taking a firmer position. play,” says Nancy Ahlrichs, vice president of client services at the Indi- anapolis office of Right Associates, an international outplacement firm. The Perfectionist “If you want to reach them at night or on a Saturday, just call the of- When Nancy Ahlrichs was fresh out of college, she landed her fice.” Worse, such a boss invades your every waking hour, making it all first full-time job, supervising the advertising design and layout of a but impossible to separate your own home life from the office. small-town newspaper. On deadline day, the paper's irritable general Ahlrichs advises setting limits on your availability. Make sure the manager would suddenly appear over her shoulder, inspecting her work boss knows you can be reached in a crisis, but as a matter of practice go for errors. Then he'd ask a barrage of questions, ending with the one home at a set time. If he responds angrily, reassure him that you will Ahlrichs dreaded most: “Are you sure you'll make deadline?” tackle any project first thing in the morning. Get him to set the priori- “I never missed a single deadline,” Ahlrichs says, “yet every ties, so you can decide which tasks can wait. week he'd ask that same question. I felt belittled by his lack of confi- If you have good rapport with the boss, says Mardy Grothe, con- dence in me.” sider discussing the problem openly. Your goal is to convince him that Ironically, the general manager was lowering the staff's produc- just as he needs to meet deadlines, you have personal responsibilities tivity. To paraphrase Voltaire, the perfect is the enemy of the good. that are equally important. According to psychiatrist Allan Mallinger, co-author with Jeannette DeWyze of Too Perfect: When Being in Control Gets Out of Control, “the perfectionist's overconcern for thoroughness slows down every- one's work. When everything has to be done perfectly, tasks loom lar- 55 56
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