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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
Withhold your love.
Rationale: Bullies get maudlin now and then, and may even close the door and tell you their life stories. Don't be fooled. The flip side of his bogus emotion is resentment that he has revealed his soft underbelly. He'll take it out on you later. When the giving vein is upon him, it's easy to think you've crossed over into some warm, wet land where life is soft and comfy. There is no such place. So play hard to get. He'll respect you more in the morning.

Effectiveness: Not particularly effective as a short- term tactic - a hug may some- times do you better - but absolutely essential to one's long-term sanity and dignity.


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