It can be hard to deal with an unpredictable boss. Maybe he’s chummy and personable one minute, and condescending and curt the next. If your boss is like that, try not to take it personally — his erratic behavior probably has nothing to do with you or your performance. Focus instead on what may be triggering his ups and downs. It could be something as simple as low blood sugar. Does your boss come into the office every morning with a dark cloud over his head? Is he most upbeat after lunch? Or perhaps his outbursts accompany particularly stressful situations, like a monthly meeting with the board. Identifying the underlying causes of your boss’s mood swings will help you predict the next outburst. That way, you can avoid your boss in those moments (for example, perhaps it’s wiser to hold off on certain requests until he gets back from lunch) or offer help when he needs it most.
Adapted from "How to Deal with a Boss Who Behaves Unpredictably," by Carolyn O'Hara
