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

Chapter 17. Forgetfulness

About Forgetfulness

You stayed up until midnight setting up all the materials he needs. You placed them on his office chair, so he wouldn't forget anything. Finally, you can focus on the rest of your agenda: creating the departmental standards manual for your employees. You put your feet up and look forward to a few days without having to be a caretaker.

Just as your feet hit the desktop, the phone rings. Uh-oh. Caller ID says your TOT's on the line. "Hi, boss!"

"Thank God you're there. I think I really screwed up." Uh-oh ... again.

"You got me to the airport so early, I figured I had time to get a drink, so I went to the bar and ordered a Bloody Mary ... to relax. The next thing I knew they were calling final boarding for my plane, so I ran to the gate and just made it on the flight."

"So, what's the problem?"

"Umm. I think I left my briefcase in the bar. I can't remember which hotel I'm supposed to go to. And now I can't find that little memory flash stick thingy that you put the presentation on. What the heck should I do?"

"Sheesh," you think to yourself, "he's like a little kid. He almost 'missed the bus,' he 'forgot his lunchbox,' and if he ever lost his cell phone ... ! How can someone with so much responsibility need me as a surrogate parent?"

But Why?

A scatterbrained TOT is reminiscent of a child so involved in momentary distractions that he can't keep track ...