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What do you do with a boss who must feel he is in complete control 100 percent of the time. Our work place is SO stressful, people are quitting, and I am concerned about my fellow workers increase in smoking, drinking and taking Prozac and Xanax. The board of directors are aware there is a problem and are watching him. The stress level is unbearable and I am in the process of looking for another job. In the meantime, what can I do to keep from getting stressed out? (My family doctor has advised me to find something else, due to an increase in my physical ailments).
I'm wondering how realistic you are about your work. Do you tend to be a perfectionist? Are you creating some of your own problems? Do you have a job description? Does your boss expect you to do more than your job description? I'm wondering what is creating the stress? There is a difference between perfectionism and striving for excellence. You and your boss may be driving yourselves crazy by expecting more than the job really requires. I often encourage perfectionists to do 80% of what they have been doing and see how that works out. Look at being an adequate person, rather than trying to be perfect. Some people create their own stress, so make sure you're not doing that.
Dr. Ginger Gabriel, Ph.D., M.F.T., is an author and speaker as well as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. With Master of Arts degrees in counseling and missions and a Ph.D. in psychology, she has traveled to Asia, the Middle East and throughout North American giving her four-to fifteen-hour relationship and counseling skill-building seminars.
Her favorite pastimes are kayaking, quilting, hiking and reading novels. She is married to Dr. Stan Gabriel. They have three children and three grandchildren.