A difficult or abusive1） boss can poison2） the best of you are not powerless；before you even consider quitting，try the boss－taming strategies below.
CHANGE YOUR OWN WAYS Few people are randomly blow up on particular occasions over particular k your boss's peeves3） and patterns，then eliminate the triggers within your example，if he snarls when you arrive just five minutes late to work or make one type on a memo，avoid these slipups4） no matter how trivial they one of your coworkers manages your boss's moods skillfully，ask him what you could be doing more effectively，then borrow a few of his moves.
STAY COOL UNDER FIRE Respond to the content of your boss's tirade，not the ever you do，don't cower，stammer or people get off on brutalizing5） others，and passivity makes you a ond confidently：Say“I'd like to put together a report that will satisfy 's discuss how I can make that happen.”
USE CONSTRUCTIVE CONFRONTATION Your boss may be more willing to change his behavior than you managers don't realize how much their words or actions upset him how his out－bursts make you ，for example，“When you call me names and criticize my work in meetings I feel demoralized6）。Please address me respectfully and take me aside to discuss criticisms in private.”If he values your work，he may rein in his abusiveness.
APPEAL TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY If your boss becomes intolerably abusive，you may have to go above his head to your personnel department or senior before you take this course，discreetly7） ask coworkers if they've clashed with your boss in the lly，they will back you up and permit you to mention their names when you make your way，you can bring a pattern of behavior to management's n by asking，“Can I have a discussion with you off the record？”Then cite examples that show how your boss's treatment negatively affects your it clear that you want to improve the situation，not punish your discipline is what he needs，let the higher－ups make that call.
by Laurel Touby
一個難纏或喜歡濫用權力的老闆可能會將好端端的工作搞砸。但你並不是完全無能爲力的；在你考慮不幹之前，不妨試一試下面幾種對付老闆的策略：
改變你自己的辦事方式 很少有人是隨意發火的。他們一般是在特定場合因特定的事而發作的。你要摸清你的老闆的脾氣，並儘可能消除隱患。比如，他爲了你上班僅遲到5分鐘或打錯了一個字便大發雷霆，那麼你就要儘量避免這類疏忽，不論它們看起來多麼微不足道。如果你的某位同事善於應付老闆的.情緒，那你就向他請教一下你怎麼做才能更爲有效，不妨借用他的一些手段。
在盛怒下保持冷靜 只可迴應你老闆所責罵的事，而不迴應他的惡言惡語。不論怎樣，都不要畏縮、支吾或抱歉。有些人自認爲可以對他人蠻橫，而逆來順受就會使你成爲其目標。你要自信地迴應說：“我想準備一份令你滿意的報告。讓我們談談我怎麼做爲好吧”。
採用建設性的對抗方式 你的老闆可能比你所想像的更樂於改變其態度。有些經理並沒有認識到他們的言行使下屬感到多少不快，可以告訴他，你對他發怒的感受。比如說：“當你在會議上責罵我，批評我的工作時，我感到很沮喪。請尊重我，把我叫到一邊私下裏提出你的批評。”如果他看重你的工作，他會對自己的謾罵有所收斂的。
訴諸更高的上級 如果你的老闆濫用權力令人難以容忍，你就得越過他直接找人事部門或高級經理。但在你採取這一步驟之前，要謹慎地詢問一下同事，他們是否過去也與你的老闆有過沖突。他們可能會支持你並且允許你在上告時提到他們的名字。這樣你就可以提請公司主管注意你老闆的不當行爲。你可以這樣發問：“我能和你作一次非正式的談話嗎？”然後舉例說明你上司的作法如何影響你的工作。你要表明你想改進現狀，而非懲罰你的老闆。如果你的老闆需要紀律約束的話，那就讓上級打電話通知他吧。
abusive adj. 濫用權利的
poison vt. 敗壞，搞砸
peeve n. 氣惱， 怨恨
slipup n. 錯誤， 失敗， 不幸
brutalize vi. 使……變得蠻橫
demoralized adj. 士氣低落的
discreetly adv. 謹慎地， 小心地