To revisit an earlier series on office acculturation I thought I would share some thoughts on how to manage your managers. Chances are you will have at least one if not more bosses and you should really know what you are dealing with.
I have read up on management styles from many different sources. My favorite and most useful perspective, however, comes from a decidedly acute and empathetic perspective. The “anthropologist” who I most associate with, having come from an extended participant-observation period in a corporate setting, is Scott Adams: the cartoonist and author who brings us Dilbert.
Below is a helpful infographic for identifying your boss and how to manage them:
It is important to know what you are dealing with, as about 50% of your job will be managing your manager so you can survive the work day and stand a chance of being productive.
Another helpful blog I found identifies 6 different management styles as well as how to manage them:
http://learn.latpro.com/the-six-different-types-of-managers/
For the record: these boss management types include:
- The Control Freak
- The Autocrat
- The Blame Fixer
- The Soft Heart
- The Politician
- The Team Builder
Bone up on your Boss background and go forth into your cubicle feeling empowered and superior…because you will need these emotions to find your way to your own dysfunctional management style….
Related articles
- Office Acculturation 101: Talking The Talk (thenarcissisticanthropologist.com)
- Office Acculturation 102: The Uniform (thenarcissisticanthropologist.com)
- Office Acculturation 103: Workplace Rituals (thenarcissisticanthropologist.com)
- How To Work For More Than One Boss–And Stay Sane (forbes.com)
- Let’s Celebrate Dilbert-Style Management? Huh? (stevedenning.typepad.com)
The Narcissistic (American) Anthropologist 
This is coming at the right time. I’m about to go back to an office environment in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to categorizing and learning how to manage my new boss!