Whistle While You Work :)

Snow White is one of those fairy tales that makes postfeminist moms worry about imparting the wrong bedtime message, largely because of the misconception that the prince saves Snow White with a kiss.

However, the real story is that her new friends, the dwarves, save Snow White and she inspires their loyalty through diligence and teamwork.

The fairy tale illustrates the importance of developing allies by making yourself valuable to your co-workers. Snow White shows us that being the object of envy can be dangerous, but with the dedicated support of co-workers, it is possible to make it through, even when your adversary is in a position of power.

Snow White had the seven dwarfs to help her survive the cut throat queen. (A queen can be any gender. Some good, some bad.)

The seven survival strategies for keeping your job and reputation when you have a difficult boss:

First things first. If you are not lucky enough to have seven dwarfs adopt you, then start with these strategies.

1. Whistle while you work - Do your work with a positive attitude and be indispensable to your co-workers. Winning the respect of your peers is always worthwhile and keeps you in the long game.

2. Strive to win the boss over with sheer excellence and excitement- You might be able to inspire an attitude adjustment by delivering outstanding results. Your accomplishments will make it easier for you to defend yourself with higher ups.

3. Try to understand your boss's point of view- Dr. Sharon G. Hadary says, "Rather than thinking of this person as an enemy, try to understand why he or she is behaving this way. Perhaps there are ways to help this person achieve his or her own objectives, and in so doing become a respected colleague."

4. Pick your battles carefully. -If you are having a difficult time with a supervisor, boss or someone who is overseeing your work, assess the situation dispassionately and pick your battles strategically. "He who knows when to fight and when not to fight will win."- Sun Tzu

5. If the situation becomes dire, speak to your mentor, your boss's boss or to a human resources officer. - There are some situations where there is no recourse. If winning your boss over is not happening, you need to decide if the advantages of your job outweigh the pain of dealing with your boss and if you should be looking for another job.

6. Evaluate your options carefully and objectively. - Get feedback and make sure you talk to the right people. If complaints can't be justified, you are going to have a difficult time making your case. Try to separate the work from your feelings. Of course, if there is verbal and physical abuse report that right away.

7. Wait for your enemy to self destruct like the evil queen- Remember, the person who makes you angry controls you. Sometimes you have to let it go, even if a boss was unfair and never acknowledged the mistake or apologized. It never pays to burn your bridges in business.

“In moments of crises, the workplace can be a safe haven for people. But that requires intentional, empathetic leadership. Thank you, Cary, for your role in being a part of this movement to humanize leadership." -Mia Mends, CEO, C&W Services (Cushman & Wakefield)

If this resonating with you, learn more here.

Watering your tree of knowledge, ????

-Cary