151 Quick Ideas to Deal With Difficult People

124Prep for a Meeting With Boss

When you finally decide to enlist a manager’s help in dealing with an office foe, approach the meeting like a manager. Ask the supervisor ahead of time how much time he or she can spare. Prepare a script or outline, particularly if you’re nervous, so that you cover your points and respect the manager’s time constraints.

Prioritize your comments and anticipate follow-up questions, advises Marie McIntyre in Secrets to Winning at Office Politics: How to achieve your goals and increase your influence at work. Start with your most important points,” she says, “and move quickly but be prepared for them to pepper you with questions after about three sentences. Executives don’t want to listen to a monologue.”

Be concise. ...