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

Chapter 4. Ignoring

About Ignoring

Friday passes without feedback. When you get in on Monday, it's the same story. Days go by, and you get nervous. You need your boss's approval because if she doesn't sign off within the week, none of the departmental requisitions can be approved.

You drop by her office. She's on the phone and avoids eye contact. You send an e-mail: "Did you have a chance to review the needs assessment document I sent you?" No response. You try your luck with your TOT's assistant, who tells you that the boss is tied up at home but "she probably has your report." Yikes!

Seven unreturned phone calls—and several fruitless trips to her office later—you begin to doubt yourself. You wonder why your TOT won't respond. Maybe it wasn't due until next Friday. Maybe you forgot to deliver it. Maybe you had a mental slip and included "Firing the boss" on the needs assessment. Then, miraculously, you see her in the hallway, two hours before the deadline.

She perks up when she sees you. "Great job," your TOT tells you. "I sent it on to the CEO without changing anything at all. Hey, can you start on the Phelps report? I'm absolutely buried here." She doesn't mention your tidal wave of messages, and you squander the split-second of glory you just received by wondering if she's checked her e-mail anytime in the last millennium.

But Why?

If you've ever experienced the great shut-out from ...