It is difficult dealing with the boss from Hades on a daily basis, but consider this. It may be his or her behavior is the result of insecurity or low self-esteem. If you show me a bully I'll show you a coward. The more pushy a person is the more afraid he is that someone is going to push back. This belief was confirmed for me in the book The Witch Doctors by Micklethwait and Wooldrige. They quote a psychologist who asked Senior American Executives, "What they would least want their subordinates to know about them. In 19 out of the 20 cases the answer was the same. They feared that their subordinates would learn how inadequate they felt in their jobs."
Now, how much energy do you think it takes for someone to worry about other people finding out how inadequate they felt? Probably a lot! So, maybe the boss is really not attempting to be a "jerk," but in reality trying to prove he's competent. I know, either way, he's still a jerk, but at least this perspective cuts him some slack. And, maybe help you not waste energy on someone who only feels inadequate.
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