Calm Them Down . . . And Manage Up

Sometimes it’s hard to know which is preferable: staying in an untenable situation such as working for a Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT) or overbearing boss (see The Detroit News) – or starting over with record numbers of job-hungry candidates. Given today’s outsourced, downsized mindset, it’s more critical than ever to ensure that your own career goals are in sync with the dynamics of your workplace.

Whether you’re toiling away in a toxic workplace or knocking it out of the park every day in a supportive and emotionally rewarding company, how you react to your environment will largely determine your fate. As I pointed out recently on The Glass Hammer, a popular blog for female executives, the way you react to an aggressive manager will either temper the TOT-o-meter – or send it off the charts.

For starters, don’t take the bullying personally. It’s very possible that your blustering TOT™ might not be aware of the behavior on you or other employees. Bad or mediocre managers don’t necessarily set out to create a vicious, cruel workplace. Often they’re simply not very good at being bosses. They may even be preoccupied about their own jobs. If they are intentionally malicious as opposed to overly aggressive and attacking, that’s another matter that requires serious action. But assuming the first scenario, which is far more common – almost without exception, the best approach is to C.A.L.M. things down: Communicate frequently; Anticipate problems and solutions; use Levity to break up tension, and Manage up… often.

Even if outright bullying isn’t your challenge, you have an opportunity to maximize your value to the company and influence in the workplace. “Managing up” involves taking initiative to be a proactive problem solver, frequent communicator and collaborator, as well as a role model of high ethical standards; positive energy and to demonstrate calm under pressure. All of these attributes will help make you the master of your own career.

Every career has its setbacks during the ride, so don’t be hard on yourself for misjudgments along the way; without them, no one would learn. But by consistently managing up, especially with bullying TOTs, you will keep your valued career on track, not sidetracked.