InsideTech

Good article! My boss is a combination of a few of these, and I have been trying to think of a way to deal with her. I now have a few ideas--thank you so much for this!

Live long enough and you'll know 'em all, I suppose. All in all it was a good article, only exception being the advice to make "inside jokes and friendly chit-chat" with co-workers. That's all nice and well, as long as you, at the very least, keep in mind that in the dog-eat-dog world of business, your coworker might, at some point, find it advantageous to reveal those inside jokes to "The Robot" (or any othe type of boss, for that matter), which will instantly put you at certain disadvantage, to put it nicely. Much better advice would be to stick to the golden rule and do unto others...yadayadayada. If and when you develop good enough relationship with the boss, go ahead and make a joke directed at him, but make sure it's done in his presence, rather than behind his back, and keep in mind possible reaction of other "audience," so as you do not make him look like too much of a fool or discredit his authority in the process. There's time and place for everything...

I definitely know the Patronizer