Ask Bing: Fire the boss

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Q: I distributed the Fortune article about crazy bosses to a lot of people who are dealing with bosses who are scarily insane and dangerous. I am amazed at how many books and newspaper and magazine articles are written about these jerks. Yet, a lot of us are puzzled by some important questions/issues not ever covered in these books and articles, like why are these people still working for the corporation? Why aren't they fired, but their subordinates are? What's going on? Why do these monsters get promoted?

I work for a Fortune 100 company, where one of these freaks works in the department just down the hall from me. Human Resources supposedly has an enormous file on the guy, but he thrives just the same. His boss knows what's going on and he's taken on the same evil characteristics. He even has called the subordinates to his office where he used the F word quite liberally to let them know where he stood. (Fortunately, I don't work in that group, but I truly feel their pain. Some are on meds to help them get through the day.)

I have had a psychotic boss (and co-workers) at this company, but was fortunate to have a high level executive smart enough to know what was going on and put the boss from hell in her place. (Interestingly, she wasn't fired, but her responsibilities as they related to me were taken away.) Can you please answer the above questions?

A: Sure. I'll take them in order. 1) These people are still working for the corporation because bad behavior isn't punished until the numbers are affected or the quality of the output goes down so dramatically that management above the crazy guy has a problem it has to deal with itself. Then things change; 2) Their subordinates are fired (as opposed to the crazy boss) because subordinates are more fungible - i.e. replaceable - than the senior manager. Also, senior managers hate to fire their peers. It's much easier to fire people who have less power and who they golf with less often; 3) As for "What's going on?" it's a pretty general question, but I guess the answer is that organizations embrace crazy, effective executives because they are run by crazy, effective executives. Little people suffer. Big, powerful people don't, or not as much.

I'm afraid you'll agree that this answer could have easily have been written by employees of Caesar, Attila, Genghis Kahn, Henry VIII or Henry Ford. Some things about power change over time. Some things are eternal. It's our job to figure out what we can do about it. You - in getting your crazy boss taken off work that pertained to you - did pretty darn well. 4) Monsters get promoted because they look very handsome to other monsters.

Q: I am writing to discuss a piece of advice that was given for those dealing with the 'bully'. I completely disagree with and actually take great offense to the statement "When it becomes necessary in hostile meetings, take a bullet that was meant for him."

This is neither the ethical nor responsible action to take under any work circumstance. So-called crazy bosses need to be put in their place. Corporate greed has shaped these unrelenting money mongers so that they foam at the mouth at the mention of any bonus or raise they may receive for pushing their workers to the maximum... and to do so with an attitude that would make you want to actually kill them, well that just isn't how the work environment should be run.

You should never have so much fear for your boss or lack of respect for yourself that you throw yourself in front of a bus for them. It should be an appropriate mutually giving/taking relationship. Taking one for your boss does not exemplify this. These type of monsters need to be exposed in our society, not masked like you are suggesting. Good day and hopefully you can find time to lick your boss's [unprintable].

A: You are a very angry person; possibly too angry to work in a corporate environment without suffering from Exploding Spleen Syndrome. I'm not saying you're wrong, by the way. You're just not tactical. The kind of strategy that I sometimes suggest - like taking a bullet for a bully - is a part of a larger, overall strategy that involves a long-term commitment to craft, guile, manipulation and intelligent footwork.

With a bully, a nuanced back-and-forth between kissing up and resistance is often very effective. One day, you silently take the abuse, not getting upset about it, not crying or raging, just enduring because you know that on Day Two you are going to have a minor freakout and show some spine when the right time comes. Soft. Hard. Yielding. Pushing back.

Honestly, the question is not a moral or ethical one, my friend. It's how to get over on an irrational, cruel, demented power that controls your working life. It takes guts and subtlety. And if at times you have to appear loyal and staunch to live another day, so much the better. It's about winning, and doing what you have to do, short of licking your boss's [unprintable]. That's when you say no, having earned the right to do so by turning in good work and proving that you're on his/her side on prior occasions. And just one more word, which may seem impossible to you: Try not to eat away at yourself so much. They win when you do.

Q: Hi there. I know that some of your readers have attacked your use of a cigar in your image. I just wanted you to know that as far as I am concerned you are smoking a blunt and it looks very cool to me. Please don't replace with beans. By the way you have a very informative blog and it's obvious you have experience to pass around. Thanks for taking time to read this.

A: The guy who wrote this lives in Rhodes! And for those of you who doubt the value, in a corporate environment, of a little bit of gentle, moderate executive stroking? Imagine how nice your boss would feel if you said something sweet like this to him or her. People like me enjoy being kissed up to a little! Don't begrudge us!

What do you think of Bing's advice?