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

Chapter 10. Territorialism

About Territorialism

This seems like a dream come true, until you find your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT) is not nearly as happy about your assignment as you are. In his head, the Northeast corridor is still his territory.

He begins a rampage of criticism, constantly demanding updates—and trashing your plans. "You know, that's not how I did it when I had the Northeast." He undermines your efforts by reaching out to his old client contacts himself, and he gripes to senior management.

Your TOT's interference comes to a head in the weeks leading up to an important trade show. You spend days on the telephone, trying to set up client meetings, only to find your prime clients are claiming their schedules are booked. When you investigate, you find your TOT has already lined up appointments with them—without inviting you.

"I'm the one who made this territory what it is. I'm the experienced professional. So I stepped in," he says. At the end of your first quarter, your numbers confirm what you already know: you have been running in place, thanks to a boss who can't let go. The Northeast territory is quickly going south!

But Why?

What's going on here? This is a textbook case of a territorial TOT—and the proverbial "sandbox syndrome" is at play. Although he has moved on to new responsibilities, this TOT is unwilling to cede his old stomping grounds to anyone. The result is ...