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How to Deal With a Sneaky Boss

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A sneaky boss can be cutthroat and sly in the ways he deals with both his clients and his employees. A sneaky boss can also lack integrity and be unethical. He will lie and intimidate others in order to get his way. Fortunately for the slighted employee working for this sneaky boss, there are ways to put out the fire. The worse the situation, however, the bigger the risk a proactive employee will have to take to dispel the situation.

Set your limits. If you work for a boss who is unruly, you may have to increase your pain threshold in order to keep a cool head. There are a few barriers that your boss should never cross, of course, such as embarrassing or disgracing you in front of your colleagues.

Make sure you are performing your work at the best of your ability before confronting your boss. If your work is recognized by your peers and even your boss, then your concerns will likely have more weight to them; your two cents will be more highly regarded if your output is excellent and you don't complain.

Speak with your boss in private if the situation becomes dire. Talk about your own feelings about the situation, rather than making the conversation about what your boss is doing wrong. Be forgiving and unrighteous by using phrases such as "I feel as though," "what I feel is the truth is," or "the way I see it is."

Go over your boss' head if your boss' cutthroat ways have not changed or have gotten worse. Send a letter of grievance to a corporate higher-up, or ask for a transfer to a different department. Make sure the tone of the letter is fair, level-headed and presents all sides of the argument.

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Writer

Jane McDonaugh has been a professional writer and editor since 2010, with expertise in literature, television, film and humor. She is a freelance reader for Author Solutions Film and has held many other positions in television and film production. McDonaugh holds a Bachelor of Arts in television production and English from Emerson College.