Hardwiring Accountability

During these difficult economic times everyone is feeling pressured. The climate within most workplaces is far from relaxed. This tension leads to an intensification of behaviors for toxic bosses — the yellers & screamers, control-freak micro managers, insecure nightmares. Here are some steps you can take to cope the problem manager:

1. Don’t take it personally! Do not let toxic people penetrate your self esteem. Their screaming, demeaning, cynical poison is about them, not you. Consciously manage your boundaries so the toxins can’t get in.
2. Remain flexible, yet don’t compromise your values in the face of other people’s toxic emotions. It’s surprisingly easy to slip into resentment, sabotage, vindictiveness or the temptation to get revenge. When this happens, you become part of the problem - so monitor your reactions carefully.
3. Resist acting victimized by the tyrants around you. Tyrants feed on victims. Victims can not lead. Be proactive and act on your personal power and resilience.

All these steps take a hefty dose of self-control. Yet they’re certainly better than the alternatives–having your passion and creativity at work be extinguished.