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Stanley Bing

How to deal with your crazy boss

Fortune's Stanley Bing shares his take on the five types of crazy bosses, and some strategies for dealing with one, from "Crazy Bosses" (Harper Collins).

The bully
Provide excellent operating assistance.
Rationale: Bullies are in almost constant pain. It hurts to be aggrieved and angry all the time, particularly at people you like and who might like you if you weren't such a toad. If you know he likes to read the trade news while on the road in order to stay informed, see if you can make sure he's the first busy nabob to get his info at the Allen Conference. If he likes toys, buy him a pen that is also a flash drive. Any small attempt to ease his troubled way - with no professional agenda at all - will pay off in spades.

Effectiveness: High. But keep it cool and relatively free of affect. You're not offering affection, just a little bit of comfort on the hard road.


Tell us about your crazy boss
Is your boss heading for a self-made disaster? Scared of his own shadow? Just plain weird? Share your insane workplace story.
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