Tame Your TOT™ — Terrible Office Tyrant

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About Tame Your TOT™

Go Easy: Behind that Façade is a...TOT™!

Demanding Boss Workplace expert and Tame Your TOT™ creator Lynn Taylor advises employees everywhere to use a levity lens™ when observing bouts of childish behavior among difficult bosses, called TOTs (Terrible Office Tyrants™).

She explains that the word "tyrant" was carefully balanced by the acronym "TOT" because there's often an unwitting, unknowing behavior behind all the blustering. TOTS are everywhere, up and down an organization, but we are here to help, especially if you work for one, Lynn says.

Taylor's combination of insightful humor and TOT Taming Tips, along with her Managing up philosophy, will help you:

"There are a number of striking parallels between difficult bosses and children — and the more I considered the similarities between TOTs and toddlers, I realized that almost all executives behave this way at some point," Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT) author Lynn Taylor explained. "Whether they are demanding, self-centered, distracted, bewildered, needy — or prone to micro-managing, mood swings, or tantrums, TOTs can act out similarly to toddlers in their Terrible Twos. Not surprisingly, the same techniques used in parenting a spoiled child are often effective solutions for dealing with a 'childish' boss."

Fearful BossUnder the thin veil of the "office tyrant" is often a fearful, self critical child, according to Taylor. Her Tame Your TOT™ concept is an eye-opening revelation and practice, supported by independent, in-depth and on-going research studies beginning in 2004; Taylor's expertise as a renowned career expert; and 20 years of corporate experience.

Taylor's forthcoming book comprehensively covers all of the most frustrating, unproductive boss behaviors — and provides solutions to help you: gain control at work, mitigate stress, enjoy your job and help you handle the slippery slope of office politics — all of which creates a win-win for life at the company.

Taylor's philosophy is to help you humanize your workplace™ — creating an environment based on better communication, collaboration, respect and understanding. Not surprisingly, the result of all this is enhanced corporate productivity, which circles around to benefit you as well. The Tame Your TOT™ practice is important for employers and employees alike. No one wants to work for a TOT, but no one wants to employ a TOT either!

You can take specific action that will make a difference … starting now.

So do yourself and others a favor. Help TOT-proof your company™, and start achieving GREATNESS.  We hope you browse through the articles, join us on the TOT blog and start sharing your TOT stories and taming successes.

Lynn Taylor Talks About Tame Your TOT™

"Too often in modern day culture, the 'big bad boss' is portrayed as one-dimensional and stereotypical," Tame Your TOT™ author Lynn Taylor tells us. "One purpose of the Tame Your TOT™ message and franchise is to communicate that by seeing the child in bosses, we can better understand motives and needs. Employees can take steps to change the boss dynamic, creating a win-win-win: for employee, boss and company."

"In developing this practice, I realized that the similar behaviors are so encompassing," Taylor adds. "They range from bullying and tantrums, to the more benign, such as neediness, helplessness and mimicking." A corporate executive for many years - and a mother with solid toddler training experience, Taylor instinctively relied on those humanistic skills. The picture became crystal clear after stepping away from the corporate world for a couple years. "I knew I had to help others," Taylor said.

"Employees need not look beyond human nature, or children around us and the children inside us for a glimpse at the answers," according to Taylor. "The difference is whether people in positions of power allow the child within to inspire...or rule them. That's a rule of thumb in how you can 'spot a TOT' in your boss, co-worker, in life, or even in yourself."