Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT): How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job

Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT): How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job

by Lynn Taylor
Released July 2009
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470457641

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Book description

An indispensable guide to dealing with challenging, childish boss behavior and building a great career. Based on extensive interviews and research, Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ helps employees understand their managers and how to cope with them when they are difficult and frustrating. It reveals the most common irritating boss behaviors, including childish and bullying antics. Most people simply endure the tirades, mood swings, and incessant questions of their tyrannical bosses, but this book shows readers how to build positive relationships with even the most out-of-control boss, and still thrive in their jobs.

The key to success lies in dealing with a Terrible Office Tyrant (or TOT™) much like a parent deals with a troublesome toddler. From brats to little lost lambs, virtually every kind of boss is covered here. With true stories and time-tested solutions, this is the perfect guide for dealing with managers who slip into their Terrible Twos. These bosses may be distracted, whiny, fickle and moody, bullying and demanding, needy, stubborn, or just plain self-centered. Taylor takes employees behind all the bossy blustering, so that they can achieve their goals, and career excellence.

Bosses will also benefit from this guide to gain insight on what not to do with their team. CEOs know instinctively that Terrible Office Tyrants (TOTs) wreak havoc in their companies, harming the bottom line. A special section helps them mitigate TOT behavior – for a more productive workplace.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Introduction
  4. Getting Started: Advice for Employees
  5. I. Bratty Behavior
    1. 1. Bragging
      1. 1.1. About Bragging
      2. 1.2. But Why?
      3. 1.3. "Tell Me I'm Great!"
      4. 1.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 1.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Bragging
      6. 1.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 1.6.1. Question
        2. 1.6.2. Answer
      7. 1.7. Points to Remember
    2. 2. Bullying
      1. 2.1. About Bullying
      2. 2.2. But Why?
      3. 2.3. True TOT Tales
      4. 2.4. TOT-Taming Tips: Bullying
      5. 2.5. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 2.5.1. Question
        2. 2.5.2. Answer
      6. 2.6. Points to Remember
    3. 3. Demanding
      1. 3.1. About Demanding
      2. 3.2. But Why?
      3. 3.3. A "Gift" from Big TOT
      4. 3.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 3.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Demanding
      6. 3.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 3.6.1. Question
        2. 3.6.2. Answer
      7. 3.7. Points to Remember
    4. 4. Ignoring
      1. 4.1. About Ignoring
      2. 4.2. But Why?
      3. 4.3. The Great Escape
      4. 4.4. The Coldest Shoulder
      5. 4.5. True TOT Tales
      6. 4.6. TOT-Taming Tips: Ignoring
      7. 4.7. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 4.7.1. Question
        2. 4.7.2. Answer
      8. 4.8. Points to Remember
    5. 5. Impulsiveness
      1. 5.1. About Impulsiveness
      2. 5.2. But Why?
      3. 5.3. A Great Escape
      4. 5.4. The Impetus of Impulsiveness
        1. 5.4.1. Quick Decisions = Progress
        2. 5.4.2. The Antidote to Overload
        3. 5.4.3. Under the Radar
        4. 5.4.4. Can't Be Bothered
      5. 5.5. True TOT Tales
      6. 5.6. TOT-Taming Tips: Impulsiveness
      7. 5.7. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 5.7.1. Question
        2. 5.7.2. Answer
      8. 5.8. Points to Remember
    6. 6. Lying
      1. 6.1. About Lying
      2. 6.2. But Why?
      3. 6.3. The Lure of the Lie
      4. 6.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 6.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Lying
      6. 6.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 6.6.1. Question
        2. 6.6.2. Answer
      7. 6.7. Points to Remember
    7. 7. Self-Centeredness
      1. 7.1. About Self-Centeredness
      2. 7.2. But Why?
      3. 7.3. True TOT Tales
      4. 7.4. TOT-Taming Tips: Self-Centeredness
      5. 7.5. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 7.5.1. Question
        2. 7.5.2. Answer
      6. 7.6. Points to Remember
    8. 8. Stubbornness
      1. 8.1. About Stubbornness
      2. 8.2. But Why?
      3. 8.3. The Roots of Stubbornness
      4. 8.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 8.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Stubbornness
      6. 8.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 8.6.1. Question
        2. 8.6.2. Answer
      7. 8.7. Points to Remember
    9. 9. Tantrums
      1. 9.1. About Tantrums
      2. 9.2. But Why?
      3. 9.3. The Many Types of Tantrums
        1. 9.3.1. Bad News Blast
        2. 9.3.2. Displaced Anger
        3. 9.3.3. Heated Hand-Down
        4. 9.3.4. Moody Monday
      4. 9.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 9.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Tantrums
      6. 9.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 9.6.1. Question
        2. 9.6.2. Answer
      7. 9.7. Points to Remember
    10. 10. Territorialism
      1. 10.1. About Territorialism
      2. 10.2. But Why?
      3. 10.3. Territorial TOT Types
        1. 10.3.1. Threats from Others
        2. 10.3.2. Competitiveness
        3. 10.3.3. Arrogance
        4. 10.3.4. Insecurity
      4. 10.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 10.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Territorialism
      6. 10.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 10.6.1. Question
        2. 10.6.2. Answer
      7. 10.7. Points to Remember
    11. 11. Whining
      1. 11.1. About Whining
      2. 11.2. But Why?
      3. 11.3. Varieties of Whining
        1. 11.3.1. Powerlessness
        2. 11.3.2. No Fuel in the Tank
        3. 11.3.3. Loneliness
        4. 11.3.4. Disappointment
      4. 11.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 11.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Whining
      6. 11.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 11.6.1. Question
        2. 11.6.2. Answer
      7. 11.7. Points to Remember
  6. II. Little Lost Lambs
    1. 12. Endless questioning
      1. 12.1. About Endless questioning
      2. 12.2. But Why?
      3. 12.3. Answering questions Behind Endless questioning
        1. 12.3.1. Micromanagement
        2. 12.3.2. Deflection
        3. 12.3.3. Fear
        4. 12.3.4. Loneliness
        5. 12.3.5. Curiosity
      4. 12.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 12.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Endless questioning
      6. 12.6. TOT-Busters q&A
        1. 12.6.1. question
        2. 12.6.2. Answer
      7. 12.7. Points to Remember
    2. 13. Fantasy World
      1. 13.1. About Fantasy World
      2. 13.2. But Why?
      3. 13.3. True TOT Tales
      4. 13.4. TOT-Taming Tips: Fantasy World
      5. 13.5. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 13.5.1. question
        2. 13.5.2. Answer
      6. 13.6. Points to Remember
    3. 14. Fickleness
      1. 14.1. About Fickleness
      2. 14.2. But Why?
      3. 14.3. Where Does Fickleness Come From?
      4. 14.4. Many Forms of Fickle
        1. 14.4.1. Lack of Backbone
        2. 14.4.2. Missing Road Map
        3. 14.4.3. Spinning Wheels
        4. 14.4.4. Option Overload
      5. 14.5. True TOT Tales
      6. 14.6. TOT-Taming Tips: Fickleness
      7. 14.7. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 14.7.1. question
        2. 14.7.2. Answer
      8. 14.8. Points to Remember
    4. 15. Helplessness
      1. 15.1. About Helplessness
      2. 15.2. But Why?
      3. 15.3. "I'd Rather Have You Do It"
      4. 15.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 15.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Helplessness
      6. 15.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 15.6.1. question
        2. 15.6.2. Answer
      7. 15.7. Points to Remember
    5. 16. Irrational Fears
      1. 16.1. About Irrational Fears
      2. 16.2. But Why?
      3. 16.3. Fear Comes from Everywhere! Look out!
        1. 16.3.1. Shyness
        2. 16.3.2. Insecurity
        3. 16.3.3. Lack of Ability
        4. 16.3.4. Self-Preservation
      4. 16.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 16.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Irrational Fears
      6. 16.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 16.6.1. Question
        2. 16.6.2. Answer
      7. 16.7. Points to Remember
    6. 17. Forgetfulness
      1. 17.1. About Forgetfulness
      2. 17.2. But Why?
      3. 17.3. Insufficient Memory Alert!
      4. 17.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 17.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Forgetfulness
      6. 17.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 17.6.1. Question
        2. 17.6.2. Answer
      7. 17.7. Points to Remember
    7. 18. Mood Swings
      1. 18.1. About Mood Swings
      2. 18.2. But Why?
      3. 18.3. Unraveling Moody Mayhem
        1. 18.3.1. Lack of Self-Control—Involuntary Reflex
        2. 18.3.2. Lack of Self-Control—Voluntary Action
        3. 18.3.3. Embarrassment
        4. 18.3.4. Stress
        5. 18.3.5. Chemistry
      4. 18.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 18.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Mood Swings
      6. 18.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 18.6.1. Question
        2. 18.6.2. Answer
      7. 18.7. Points to Remember
    8. 19. Neediness
      1. 19.1. About Neediness
      2. 19.2. But Why?
      3. 19.3. Separation Anxiety and Abandonment
      4. 19.4. True TOT Tales
      5. 19.5. TOT-Taming Tips: Neediness
      6. 19.6. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 19.6.1. Question
        2. 19.6.2. Answer
      7. 19.7. Points to Remember
    9. 20. Short Attention Spans
      1. 20.1. About Short Attention Spans
      2. 20.2. But Why?
      3. 20.3. Boss Attention Deficit Disorder
      4. 20.4. Regaining Focus
      5. 20.5. True TOT Tales
      6. 20.6. TOT-Taming Tips: Short Attention Spans
      7. 20.7. TOT-Busters Q&A
        1. 20.7.1. Question
        2. 20.7.2. Answer
      8. 20.8. Points to Remember
  7. Conclusion
  8. Special Section: Advice for Bosses—TOT Proof Your Company
    1. 20.9. What Is a TOT?
    2. 20.10. Am I a Terrible Office Tyrant?
    3. 20.11. Now You Have the Tools
    4. 20.12. TOT Proof Your Company
      1. 20.12.1. Make It Safe for Success
      2. 20.12.2. A Comparative Look
      3. 20.12.3. You Are the Role Model
    5. 20.13. Adopt a "No TOT" Tolerance Policy
      1. 20.13.1. Humanize Your Workplace™
    6. 20.14. True TOT Tales
    7. 20.15. TOT-Proofing Tips
    8. 20.16. Points to Remember
  9. About Lynn Taylor

Product information

  • Title: Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT): How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job
  • Author(s): Lynn Taylor
  • Release date: July 2009
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470457641