In theory: When working in a condusive environment...
Rules from: 'How to stop worrying & start living".
1. Do not imitate others.
2. Apply this 4 good working habits:
a. Clear your desk of all papers except those relating to the immediate problem at hand.
b. Do things in the order of their importance.
c. When you face a problem, solve it then & there if you have the facts necessary to make a decision.
d. Learn to organize,delegate & supervise.
3. Learn to relax at your work.
4. Put enthusiasm into your work.
5. Count your blessings - not your troubles.
6. Remember that unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment.
7. Do the very best you can.
vs. in Reality: For the unlucky ones who work for the Boss from Hell (Boss)
1. One may find that the Boss usually follows the Big Boss's style of management - Unconciously, they imitate ways of doing things. E.g. Big Boss likes meetings. Daily meetings with staff for updates. Then weekly meeting with staff for weekly updates. Basically you get to repeat what you have said to Boss from Monday to Friday in the weekly meeting.
2.a. A clean table without paper is a flag up for your Boss to ask you, "So you don't have much work, eh?" A very dangerous situation because when comes to cost cutting time, they usually cut the headcount of people whom the Boss think is redundant; i.e. idle staff.
2.b. In WHOSE order of importance? Things you may find is important but your Boss thinks otherwise..How?
2.c. What happened to order of importance in 2.b.?
2.d. Everything that you do, you have to report to the Boss every day who then reports to the Big Boss every day. How to organize? Everything must follow Big Boss's style.
3. How to relax when your every moves are being watched? E.g. Whenever you walk away from you desk, the Boss would so coincidentally passes by & asks you, "Going for tea, eh?"
4. What enthusiasm? Do less, less chance of being targetted by the Boss. Do nothing, nothing for the boss to complain about.
5. Counting the blessings yes, but what blessings???
6. If getting sarcasm remarks from the Boss are compliments, then one gets many compliments every day... *Yeah, pun indetended*
7. Yes, no matter what, must have the Die-Hard spirit!
Ok, so how do we survive the reality when the going gets tough?
Tips on how to outwit, outplay & outlast the Boss:
1. Follow the Boss's style. mimic if need be.
2a. Always...repeat ALWAYS have a table filled with reports, papers, books to show that you are very busy with tight datelines.
2b. Boss's priorities are YOUR priorities
2c. Do things in order of importance? See no.2b
2d. Organize, tag & label everything that you do to give the Boss ease of checking what you do when you are on leave.
3. Always stay alert, not relax & let your guards down, especially on the Boss's mood of the day.
4. Put enthusiasm into staying out of the Boss firing range. Always keep Boss's command in black & white in case he uses his 'at will dementia skill' when questioning your work. E.g. "Who asked you to do that?!" Do only when be told. Tell only when asked. Don't be a smart aleck. The Boss may not appreciate having a subordinate who is smarter than him.
5. Every day if you could survive from 9am to 5pm without getting any firing from the Boss is your blessing already. Don't be demanding!
6. If you could practise no.4 & get the result of no.5 then you can most likely reduce the number of 'compliments' you get from the Boss.
7. Lastly, "Never say die!"
