What is the most common political mistake people make in the workplace?
A. The most widespread problem I see is what happens when someone gets a new boss. It’s the most hazardous point in a career, because then all bets are off. What you really need to do is make an effort to study his or her expectations and figure out how these are different from what your old boss wanted from you. It can be a hard adjustment, but you rarely have a choice. If the new boss is an idiot, learn how to work for an idiot. Of course, with someone really toxic, you need to make some decisions about how long you’re going to stay, and start taking steps to get out. Q. Is it ever realistic to expect to change a bad boss? A. Not really, but there are things you can do to manage the relationship. I often ask people, “How often do you tell your boss something you appreciate about him or her?” There’s nothing wrong with expressing a little appreciation now and then, because we certainly expect to get it from them! And, as a practical matter, if you say something positive now and then,
