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Difficult boss, 26.1.3. - 4

Juliah

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Sometimes I do not understand my boss what makes my work with her difficult.

She is a person who can hardly be named constant. Sometimes her behaviour is friendly, but even in her friendly manner there is something nervous and artificial, tightly set. Sometimes she becomes aggresive. At the same time I see her as a person who is not mature yet, in spite of her high position.

Recently it seemed to me that she had chosen me as her personal punching ball :) My position is closer to hers than anybody's else since I am her assistant... Well, definitely not an easy time for me :)

Being unable to see the core of the situation I asked about her attitude to me:

26.1.3. - 4

I would be very grateful for your thoughts, friends, as I am confused with this cast...
 

mulberry

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This reading points to me that you are in some kind of real trouble with this job. All of 26 is about restraint, of power (your own usually) kept in check by some kind of outside force. 26 also urges you to be clear-headed, to really harness your constrained power. It's not inauspicious, but it requires work. However, the lines you received speak of danger and the possibility of missteps leading to a bad outcome.

Line 1 is a strong warning not to make any movement because you're in some degree of danger. You mustn't try to force anything nor make any sudden moves. I don't mean to scare you, but both line 1 and line 3 point to some kind of danger in your sphere; this could be anything from real physical danger (unlikely) or something milder but still unpleasant like being severely reprimanded by your boss, or fired. Line 1 says you have some ability to hold on to your current position and avoid the danger if you are very quiet, very careful, very self-contained, and don't try to do anything (or fight back). "...it is better for him to
compose himself and to wait until an outlet is offered for release of his
stored-up energies." (Wilhelm)

Line 3 urges you fall in line in terms of rules. Wilhelm says of this line, "A good horse that follows others." You're the horse, and you need to fall in line with the horses in your workspace. Keep your head down, follow the rules, and stay in the pack. Do nothing to draw attention to yourself. Wilhelm also says, "Practice chariot driving and armed defense daily. It furthers one to have somewhere to go." This means be on your guard, and keep your goal (keeping your job while looking for a new one) in mind, but be private about it.

Hexagram 4 tells me that some of your problems might be based on foolishness, or an inability to see clearly. It might not be your foolishness-- it could very be your boss's (as you say, she is immature). But you need to try to attain clarity and be mature yourself, because you are at her mercy.

Bottom line: my gut from this reading tells me (and sorry if this alarms you) that you may be at risk of being let go, or at the very least, set up for an unpleasant encounter with her soon. Everything about this reading is a warning to be careful. I would be very careful, quiet, and steady at work, while quickly applying for new positions in other places. And make sure you don't use this boss as a reference in the future.

That said, it occurs to me that perhaps she herself will get fired from this job soon. There is a lot of warning of possible danger in these lines, but they're also about keeping your head down and about the possibility of getting through unscathed. Maybe she will get let go, and you will be able to hang on.

Good luck! Please come back and update us.
 

Juliah

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Dear Mulberry,

Thank you for your exhaustive response. What you have said makes a lot of sense here.

The atmosphere in the company is tense due to the persecutions issued as orders and procedures every month. For us, the employees, it is obvious that she has started a campaign against her undesirables (most of them are people who have been working with her since the company was established, about 6 yrs ago). Some of the top managers are being pressed severely, and what is called micromanagement has already taken place. From my point of view, all this guerilla tells about her powerlessness and discourages all the company. A lot of people have already left the company due to her inability to manage, as they told later.

I am a very responsible and loyal assistant, and I guess, she knows that as I have passed my trial period here without any reproach.

Some months ago a few new top managers entered the company. I notice that these people have influence on my boss, especially if they warn her, scare her and propose to change the company's structure. As if they use her condition of being scared and nervous.

Meanwhile, I guess that my boss's position is unstable as the shareholders are not satisfied with the results... I do not know for sure if there is planned anything regarding her, but she feels rather anxious. This reflects in the manner of her behaviour, nervous, rude, unable to be contradicted...
 
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Juliah

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...My prospects of searching for another job look even worse than 26.1.3 ;)
A very interesting time :)
 
S

sooo

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Hi Juliah,

My take -

Keep your nose to the grind-stone. This is a time of uncertainty. Your time shall come to rise from within if you tame your impulses, persevere, and follow good examples .
 

Juliah

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Hi Bruce, thank you, you hit the nail, as ever!

Uncertainty - that is what reigns here now...
 

Juliah

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Update: Today I have got a very severe reprimand and now I am a footstep away from being fired... :)
 

Juliah

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I am amazed: having calmed down I asked about my boss's attitude to me now.

26.1.4! The situation is in progress... :D
 
S

sooo

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I almost replied yesterday but it would have sounded too much like a reprimand, which is not my place. I think this changes to 50, correct? Don't spill the beans. :stir:
 

Juliah

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Reprimand? Could you clarify, please?

Yes, 26.1.4. turns into 50.

I found myself in a foolish and inconvenient situation. In fact, I was accused of assisting those undesirables she is struggling with. I am being prescribed the actions I can hardly ever think about...
 
S

sooo

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Surely, because you have asked. By reprimand I meant I was going to remind you of the conditions surrounding your success or downfall, based on your 26 line 1 and 3 during such a time of uncertainty and vulnerability.

On a similar note, one of my favorite managers, over time, had a habit of "flying off the handle", raising her voice at me, shouting things like "Think outside the box!" when she didn't have the answer to my question. Over the course of a few years, we became mutual advocates, and she was chiefly responsible for my promotion to take the metro territory off her back as manager, while she managed peripheral markets. A case of 26 there too.
 

Juliah

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Thank you, Bruce.

My situation is not as yours though... I know about her campaign, but in general.I know neither causes of it, nor source of the current problems. The more I try to keep away from this struggle, the more suspended I become. Trying to act according to the company rules I act like a fool (hex 4). Today I was said that I did not see the details. No, I don't since I do not know them (hex 4 again).
 
S

sooo

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Thank you, Bruce.

My situation is not as yours though... I know about her campaign, but in general.I know neither causes of it, nor source of the current problems. The more I try to keep away from this struggle, the more suspended I become. Trying to act according to the company rules I act like a fool (hex 4). Today I was said that I did not see the details. No, I don't since I do not know them (hex 4 again).

Juliah,

Though I didn't say our situations were the same, the more you speak of it, the more similar it sounds to me. I didn't go into the cause(s) of the stress which led to her outbursts, but she was under a great deal of stress due to company politics, largely kept unknown (4) from we linemen workers. When I said earlier to 'keep your nose to the grindstone' - a familiar phrase here, I don't know about there - it was a matter of focusing on my own business and responsibilities and not involving myself with the company politics taking place behind the mangers' curtain: a state of suspension (4). I didn't concern myself with my job security because I relied only upon my own productivity for that - keeping my nose to the grindstone. Naturally the tension was felt throughout our office, and that's what I attributed my manager's own sometimes unreasonable outbursts to. No one knew exactly what was going on or what was to come. Where I may have been more fortunate, I was an outside account rep and therefore could simply check out of the office and do my job in the field. If I had to stay in the office all day, as perhaps you do, I'm sure it would have felt more stressful.

26 restrains powerful forces, however it can, and it is good advice to follow the examples of good people or work horses. Eventually your time comes to let that inner strength be released, providing you don't prematurely let the young bull run loose out of the pen.

Tend to your own pot and stay out of the way of office drama, even that of your superiors, until your time comes.
 

Juliah

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Bruce, your words are really valued, thanks a lot.

Perhaps, that was premature, but today I declared that I was ready to give in notice to terminate at any time.
 

mulberry

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Juliah! I don't know what the labor laws of your country are like, but in mine (USA) you are not entitled to unemployment or other job loss payments if you quit (give notice). You have to wait to be let go or fired. So, please don't quit! Unless you can still get payments where you live.

Also, though I suspected from your initial reading that you would be severely reprimanded or even fired (I'm sorry I was correct :( ... ) if you haven't been fired yet, don't quit. I also think, from the 26.1.3 reading (especially line 3) that you may have a chance of squeaking through. Don't give notice. But do look for a new job.

Good luck! I hope better things await you.
 

Juliah

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Mulberry, thank you for your support.

Yes, I declared my readiness to quit seeing that my boss is going mad. It's not a joke and it should be taken directly. When a person sees a traitor in everyone and suspects the world... I will not be insisting on my leave since I also see that those who are still working with her do not hurry to quit seeing that the boss is inadequate, indeed. I feel upcoming changes, and I would like to see them.

At the same time, the yesterday's reprimand showed me clearly that I should not explain anything to the person who is inadeqate and who wants me to be her extension. But I do not as it's more important for me to remain a human being. I had a sincere talk with her deputy who is being treated like her first enemy now, and he confirmed that the story had started two years ago and now has reached its peak. Several years ago she was quite different.

To tell the truth, I would not like to quit. But I am at her mercy and yesterday she let me realize that I had already stepped out the limits. She was enraged with the fact the she had been unable to enslave me :) If she tells me that I am fired, well, I'll have to leave.
 

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