Water Off A Duck's Back

There are some people in this life whose only goal it seems is to criticise, put others down, make them feel like minions, yada yada. Someone like that decided to pop my party pooper today. It is at times like these that I have to say to myself 'water off a duck's back' and 'sleep over it' because these people are just not worth getting upset over. So yes, I am going to sleep now.

The Ugly Boss

My colleagues and I were chatting the other day about the ugly bosses we have had the misfortune to meet. So here's a list for your reading pleasure. For simplicity's sake, let's name the ugly boss Mr Ub (yah give me 2 cents for creativity ;p).

Mr Ub...
1. may be earning loads but a) tries to hitch a ride to save on petrol and parking, b) appear generous by giving a treat but gets his peers or WORSE, subordinates to chip in, c) complains about how poor he is living in a semi-d to his HDB dweller subordinates and d) anything more you'd like to add?

2. will say everything's ok when you check with him but on the day itself, complain about how badly everything is done, say "you all ah, must learn" and on top of that, explain how it should be done HIS way

3. displays really bad meeting etiquette. For starters, he a) turns up for almost all meetings late, with the excuse that he's really busy, b) smses openly, c) picks up his ringing handphone and says "hi I'm in a meeting, what's up and oh how are you yada yada yada...", d) opens wide his broadsheet/tabloid size newspaper and reads it as if the people around him are non-existent, including his superiors (now we're really getting somewhere!!! and yes I've actually seen it happen!), e) dismisses/shoots down what other people say in the most rude and discouraging fashion and f) doesn't read the agenda or papers before the meeting and comes in asking "eh, so what is this about ah?" (wah boss, how to respect you like that?)

4. acts like a spoilt brat by insisting that you change the meeting room even though all other rooms are fully booked

5. reproaches you for not doing things this way when they were never supposed to be done this way in the first place

6. has grand ideas and great ambitions but no consideration for the extent of slavery imposed upon his subordinates in carrying out the big plan

7.openly criticises his peers or other colleagues in front of you (so yes, you read his enemies like an open book)

8. makes you run around like a mouse high on blue cheese then tells you he doesn't need the work you just submitted

9. says you're calculative when you ask for time off in lieu of hours worked over the weekend

10. gets you to do the legwork at the eleventh hour when he's the one who works last minute

But above all, Mr Ub needs your compassion, understanding and forgiveness because deep inside, he's lonely up there, empty and hurting inside. And he can't find a way out, which is why he's ugly on the outside. So be a little gentler to Mr Ub today, though of course don't allow him to walk all over you. Mr Ub, I hope you're reading this.