He may lead, but you can be his master.
HE’S SHOUTING AT YOU
Your move When he’s angry about something, don’t give him any guff. Wait for him to calm down, and then offer a bit of good news to please him.
Why it works Dog trainers call this the “least reinforcing scenario”. Like dogs, people feed off reactions. Bossy dogs stop barking if you ignore the noise and instead focus on rewarding them for keeping quiet. So will bossy bosses.
HE’S DUMPING BOTTOM-BARREL WORK ON YOU
Your move Stay busy, limit chit-chat and trumpet your new projects.
Why it works When a dog wishes to disengage from another dog’s advances, it often sniffs the ground as if terribly engrossed in a scent – a cut-off signal. Similarly, your boss is less likely to interrupt you with a trivial assignment when he senses you’re already busy.
YOU CAN’T KEEP HIS ATTENTION
Your move Improve your body language so he’ll focus on you. Use assertive hand gestures. Make eye contact, smile and be animated. If your boss is walking, fall into step and match his gait.
Why it works Dogs stand tall when they’re being assertive. They move with purpose. If you do the same, your boss will respond instinctively.
