Tips for coping with temperamental and miserable boss

[BreezyTrees]

Any tips for having to put up with this (apart from just leaving)? I try to ignore it and keep my head down and get on with my work but it is so draining day in day out when you're on the receiving end of bad temper for absolutely no reason wondering what they'll pick on next. It's not just me, the whole team is in the same boat. The directors are fully aware but do nothing.

Once you separate their behaviour from what you are doing- it's about them, not you- it becomes easier.
Channel 'water off a duck's back'.

With practice it becomes second nature, like dealing with difficult customers .

It's not about you, it's about them being a misery guts.

Also, prepare some work place safe responses to their regular gripes.

I find it really helps to take the sting out of it, if I can answer back.

Even an 'Are you ok? You sound really stressed' can short circuit someone's bolshiness. It's obviously really dependent on context and personality. You'd need to work out what's appropriate.

Thanks, really good advice!