Anger management

Dear F@W
My boss is a ticking time bomb. He blows up over the most insignificant things. Everyone walks on eggshells around him because you never know when you will trigger an explosion. However, once it starts, you can’t discharge it. His beady little eyes glaze over, then the veins in his neck get huge, then his voice gets real low before he blasts out rants and curses and spittle-filled accusations. It is so over the top it’s funny. But it is also impossible to work with. It has gotten to the point where I am beginning to worry about his mental health. I have tried ignoring the outbursts and asking him to stop shouting but nothing seems to help. Is there an option I haven’t considered?
–Mary-Anne, Boston Massachusetts Read the rest…

Micromanaging boss

Dear F@W,
My boss is treating me like a friggin child and I can’t take it! She is the ultimate micromanager – hounding me constantly to make sure I’m doing what I’m told. Give me a break – all I seem to hear is, “Is it done yet?” “What’s the progress?” “Where are we at?” If I hear another question come out of her mouth I’m gonna explode. When I remind her that we have lots of time, all she can say is that it does no harm to check up on me. No harm my ass! It harms my self-esteem and confidence and I’m going to end up harming her if it continues. How do I get my boss to trust me before I absolutely lose it?
–Anna, Sacramento California

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Feng Shui No Way

Our organization is a new age mess. Our executive director has a posse she brought with her from her last job. They are all very bohemian and crunchy. Those of us that have been there for a long time find it hard to come to terms with the new way of doing things. Not only do we have philosophical differences, we don’t agree on the best way to provide our services. There is a great amount of tension between staff, and instead of trying to work things out, the executive director hired a Feng Shui consultant to improve the flow of the office. Now we have desks with rounded corners and water fountains in the background, but the tension and professional differences persist. What can I do short of suggesting a spiritual house cleaning?
–Maria, Rockford, Illinois Read the rest…

Cultural differences

Dear F@W,
I’m an alien – not from outer space – but from a different country and even though I’ve been here for over 5 years, I’m still considered a resident alien. In my culture people tell it like it is but you’re a little more subtle here. At work I find people just don’t come right out say what they think; they dance around a bit and it’s very frustrating for someone like me who just blurts out an answer without thinking of 100 different ways to say it and the consequences of each one. Like yesterday, my boss asked me how a project was coming and all I said was, “I’m working as fast as I can.” Next thing you know I’m being called insubordinate. Read the rest…

Negative Impact

Dear FAW,
My boss is hyper-critical and finds fault in everything I do. Nothing is ever good enough for him. He isn’t a perfectionist – his own work could use some help – he just takes pleasure in criticizing others. This guy is an engineer with no training or experience in writing, yet he once told me he never read anything he couldn’t write better. His criticisms are off the wall. However, my annual reviews are always good to excellent, which only confuses me more. His negativity undermines my confidence and self-worth, stifles my initiative, and makes me feel depressed and hopeless. What should I do?
–Jane, Boise Idaho Read the rest…