A difficult or abusive boss can poison the best of jobs. But you are not powerless; before you even consider quitting, try the boss-taming strategies below.

一個難纏或喜歡濫用權力的老板可能會將好端端的工作搞砸。但你并不是完全無能為力的；在你考慮不干之前，不妨試一試下面幾種對付老板的策略：

CHANGE YOUR OWN WAY
Few people are randomly violent. They blow up on particular occasions over particular issues. Track your boss's peeves and patterns, then eliminate the triggers within your control. For example, if he snarls when you arrive just five minutes late to work or make one typo on a memo, avoid these slipups no matter how trivial they seem. If one of your coworkers manages your boss's moods skillfully, ask him what you could be doing more effectively, then borrow a few of his moves.

很少有人是隨意發火的。他們一般是在特定場合因特定的事而發作的。你要摸清你的老板的脾氣，并盡可能消除隱患。比如，他為了你上班僅遲到5分鐘或打錯了一個字便大發雷霆，那么你就要盡量避免這類疏忽，不論它們看起來多么微不足道。如果你的某位同事善于應付老板的情緒，那你就向他請教一下你怎么做才能更為有效，不妨借用他的一些手段。

STAY COOL UNDER FIRE
Respond to the content of your boss's tirade, not the curses. Whatever you do, don't cower, stammer or apologize. Some people get off on brutalizing others, and passivity makes you a target. Respond confidently: Say "I'd like to put together a report that will satisfy you. Let's discuss how I can make that happen.

只可回應你老板所責罵的事，而不回應他的惡言惡語。不論怎樣，都不要畏縮、支吾或抱歉。有些人自認為可以對他人蠻橫，而逆來順受就會使你成為其目標。你要自信地回應說：“我想準備一份令你滿意的報告。讓我們談談我怎么做為好吧。”

USE CONSTRUCTIVE CONFRONTATION
Your boss may be more willing to change his behavior than you think. Some managers don't realize how much their words or actions upset staffers. Tell him how his outbursts make you feel. Say for example, when you call me names and criticize my work in meetings I feel demoralized Please address me respectfully and take me aside to discuss criticisms in private. If he values your work, he may rein in his abusiveness.

你的老板可能比你所想象的更樂于改變其態度。有些經理并沒有認識到他們的盲行使下屬感到多么不快。可以告訴他你對他發怒的感受。比如說：“當你在會議上責罵我，批評我的工作時，我感到很沮喪。請尊重我，把我叫到一邊私下里提出你的批評。”如果他看重你的工作，他會對自己的謾罵有所收斂的。

APPEAL TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY
If your boss becomes intolerably abusive, you may have to go above his head to your personnel department or senior manager. But before you take this course, discreetly, ask coworkers if they've clashed with your boss in the past. Ideally, they will back you up and permit you to mention their names when you make your charges. That way, you can bring a pattern of behavior to management's attention. Begin by asking, "Can I have a discussion with you off the record?" Then cite examples that show how your boss's treatment negatively affects your performance. Make it clear that you want to improve the situation, not punish your boss. If discipline is what he needs, let the higher-ups make that call.

如果你的老板濫用權力到了令人難以容忍的地步，你就得越過他直接找人事部門或高級經理了。但在你采取這一步驟之前，要謹慎地詢問一下同事，他們是否過去也與你的老板有過沖突。他們可能會支持你并且允許你在上告時提到他們的名字。這樣你就可以提請公司主管注意你老板的不當行為。你可以這樣發問：“我能和你作一次非正式的談話嗎？”然后舉例說明你上司的作法如何影響你的工作。你要表明你想改進現狀，而非懲罰你的老板。如果你的老板需要紀律約束的話，那就讓上級打電話通知他吧.

（來源：新世紀家園 英語點津Annabel 編輯）