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

Part II. Little Lost Lambs

SOME DAYS, YOUR Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT) behaves more like a confused or anxious little kid than like a little devil. While meek may seem preferable to boisterous, that kind of high-maintenance boss can be simply exasperating. When your TOT wanders around aimlessly or fearfully, you can't exactly hold her hand, wipe her nose, and tell her everything is going to be okay.

However, you can provide support and direction—to keep your boss focused—and maintain your sanity. You can't afford to let a Little Lost Lamb run your department into the ground—or make your job a confusing tangle. You're better off taking action than hiding in the corner and sucking your thumb.

As they mature, kids need guidance to outgrow traits such as neediness, fickleness, and forgetfulness, while overcoming fears of the unknown. Your boss may need a similar type of support to succeed. Although your TOT's peers should fill that void, it doesn't happen as much as it should. And since you'll have to deal with a fearful, moody, or confused boss, you have much to gain if you can step in and help out, or "manage up."

By supporting your manager's efforts to overcome these childish traits, you are making your work life less stressful, while positioning yourself for advancement. Although some of these quirks will try your patience, your TOT-taming techniques will work wonders.

This section of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant covers the classic traits of those Little Lost Lambs. Each chapter ...