Your manager’s been on a tear lately, ignoring your e-mails and assigning impossible deadlines. Don’t take it personally: Even well-paid top dogs feel insecure at work now and again and take their frustrations out on their underlings. Lynn Taylor, author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT), decodes what your boss’s barbs really mean and how best to deflect them.
SHE SAYS: "I know it’s late, but have it ready for me by tomorrow morning."
SHE MEANS: Yes, this is a ridiculous deadline that can only lead to mediocre results--but my superiors are on my case to get it done ASAP.
WHAT YOU DO: Involve her in the process by asking, "Given such a tight deadline, what would you do to make this a success?" Soliciting her guidance makes it more difficult for her to blame you later if things go badly.
SHE SAYS: "Where have you been all afternoon?"
SHE MEANS: I’m a little needy right now and want you by my side 24/7.
WHAT YOU DO: Sell her on the upside of your absence: "I took our clients to lunch, and I think I convinced them to renew their contract with us!" Next time, be sure to remind her the day before, the morning of, and an hour prior to heading out of the office, and leave a note explicitly saying when you’ll be back.
SHE SAYS: Nothing—she hasn’t responded to any of your e-mails in days.
SHE MEANS: I’m incredibly busy. Don’t e-mail me unless it’s urgent.
WHAT YOU DO: First, stop pinging her about minor matters. Then, be direct with her about the best way to communicate. Taylor suggests something like, "I know you’re inundated. Would it be easier for you if I asked your assistant to set up a meeting for us to review my questions and ideas?"
SHE SAYS: "You haven’t finished the report yet?!"
SHE MEANS: I may be blowing this out of proportion, but I’m overwhelmed and, yes, I’m taking it out on you.
WHAT YOU DO: The simple truth is that your boss needs to vent periodically—and you’re the unlucky sap standing in front of her when she blows. Just be professional—no trembling lower lip, ladies! She’ll probably pop by later to smooth things over. Accept her peace offering and move on.
你的經理最近沉湎於尋歡作樂，忽視了你的郵件，委派了一堆你不可能完成的工作。別把這些都當成是你自己的事情：即使你是那個拿著高薪，深感不安，並且一次又一次地觸及他們失望底線的傢伙。琳·泰勒，《馴服你辦公室可怕的暴君》一書作者，在書中（譯者加）泰勒就寫到如果撫平你老闆的“刺”，就是說如何最好地扭轉他們的`觀念（譯者加）。
她說：“我知道這已經遲了，但是這必須從明天早晨就開始。”
她的意思是：是的，這是一個可笑的最後期限，只能帶來普通不過的結果——但是，我的上司在同樣的境遇下，就得到了最快的回覆。
你該怎麼做：用提問直接把她帶入流程，“給我這麼緊的最後期限，你想要怎樣的結果？”請求她的指導，把這件事弄得看起來更難一些，如果事情變得很糟，這將使她免於責備你。
她說：“你整個下午都做了什麼？”
她的意思是：我現在要求緊了一點，是希望你七天二十四小時都在我掌控範圍內。（意譯）
你該怎麼做：說服她站在你的立場上：“我花了一下午的時間說服我們的客戶，我想讓他們確定簽下和我們的合同！”下次，記得在前一天就提醒她，早晨，你將離開辦公室外出，並留下一張便籤告訴她你會在什麼時間段回來。
她說：“沒事——我並沒有回覆你一天中的任何一封Email。”
她的意思是：我確實很忙，如果沒有急事不要給我發郵件。
你該怎麼做：第一，別再用小事去麻煩她。然後，直接告訴她交流的最佳途徑，泰勒建議你可以這樣說：“我知道你已經被麻煩填滿了，如果我讓你的助手為我們準備一個會來重新闡述我的問題和觀點，事情會不會變得容易些呢？”
她說：“你竟然還沒有完成那份報告？”
她的意思是：我可能在這個時候爆發了，但是我已經不知所措了，是的，我請你出去。
你該怎麼做：顯而易見的事實是，你的老闆需要找個藉口發脾氣——而你很不幸成為了她發洩時站在她面前的那個人。變得職業點吧——“不要洩氣，女士！”她將很快消氣，重新回到正軌上來。而你要做的是（譯者加），接受她心平氣和的感謝並且表示感激。