Comments on Circles of Concrete: When angry, count to 10. When very angry, swear.

Angsty teen go home!

2008-05-01T16:37:00.000-05:00

Angsty teen go home!

fil, thank you for your excellent advice. You're r...

2006-12-14T20:22:00.000-05:00

fil, thank you for your excellent advice. You're right. This is something I am going to have to deal with if things are to get better at work. You are very smart. Thank you.

Andy, I'm very glad to say you're wrong - there ar...

2006-12-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

Andy, I'm very glad to say you're wrong - there are some cool ones. Trust me, I've had them.

Learning to manage your boss is a worthwhile investment of time. And it's an art as much as a science.

I take it from your post that even though you didn't stand up for yourself, you felt your manager got it wrong. If you are going to continue working with/for this person, it might be worthwhile trying to set aside some time to talk with him/her about what happened.

Keep it friendly. I'd suggest you start off by saying "Hey, I really want to make sure I understand what it is you expect of me." You could then focus on the specific events; if manager starts saying he/she has a problem with your work ethic, ask him/her to focus on specific instances/behaviours/events. In other words, get him/her shift the discussion from "You're a lazy sod" to "I was expecting you to do X, but you did Y." You can then respond to the specifics as appropriate, e.g. "But I actually did do X" or "Gee, you know, it wasn't clear to me you wanted Y. How can we both make sure this doesn't happen again?"

I don't know your boss, of course, but I reckon taking this approach will show him/her that you are trying to do your best, and that you're willing to make the effort to understand his/her motivations. Who knows, it might even get you to the point where he/she says 'Y'know? I was wrong." But that would be a nice-to-have, rather than an essential...

Sorry, didn't mean to turn into an online training course. Just wanted to offer some thoughts.

As for "bad days" music, I quite like L7's 'Shitlist,' Slipknot's 'People=Shit,' 9hmm, detect a scatological trend??) and The Smiths' 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.'

tad, I listened to teh flaming lips song and love ...

2006-12-14T09:53:00.000-05:00

tad, I listened to teh flaming lips song and love it. I just wish I could do what wayne says!

rachel, "hate boss's day" sounds like a good idea. Cool bosses are just a myth. I've never actually encountered one.

Thanks for the kind words.

Andy, you know we have a "Boss's Day" but I think ...

2006-12-14T04:44:00.000-05:00

Andy, you know we have a "Boss's Day" but I think we should have a "Hate Boss's Day" and this works for managers too.
Seriously, I am not kidding it would be the greatest day ever! Boss's get bossed by their employees for a day!!

Where are the cool boss's and why are Manager's ten times worse? What the hell they get a little bit of power and they become assholes.They must take some sort of class or something...

I'm sorry though...I think you are awesome, I also think you selected some great loud angry screeming tracks that kick some major ass. I love Chevelle, I use them too for my angry moments. :)

have a listen to "bad days (aurally excited versio...

2006-12-14T01:24:00.000-05:00

have a listen to "bad days (aurally excited version)" by the flaming lips.

"you hate your boss at your job
and in your dreams you can blow his head off
in your dreams, show no mercy"

but don't do what wayne tells you to!