Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT): How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job

Chapter 13. Fantasy World

About Fantasy World

You simply can't believe your ears. Your TOT wants to resurrect this buggy bomb during staff layoffs and a spiraling business climate. It was the fly in the ointment for the CEO last year, due to product recalls and bad press that almost sank your firm and your TOT along with it.

You wonder how such a dismal failure could end up back in play—and so, you cautiously inquire about the CEO's view. "Wow, that's ... interesting news. You got the nod on this?"

He says, "I'll lock this thing up. I'm sure senior management will see that it's just what we need for our revenue situation. They'll let bygones be bygones. I mean, let's face it, the 3,472 consumer e-mails we got in two days was a record—and valuable feedback. That's what I call good work, team. And it's just the beginning!"

The strangest thing about this new development isn't that your TOT distorts the story—it's that he seems to believe it. He's truly proud of his failed product and won't let go. You see him headed once more into Fantasy Land until he gets a reality check from Big TOT.

But Why?

While you might expect kids to fantasize about being superheroes, that scenario doesn't seem as likely when the caped crusader is your 49-year-old boss. And yet, like kids, many TOTs live in an imaginary world characterized by distorted interpretations of reality. Perhaps your boss specializes in paranoia, ...