A bad boss is the most common reason employees quit their jobs, according to staffing firm Robert Half International. And a survey of workers by the Workplace Bullying Institute, a nonprofit group that does research and training on the subject, conducted last year found that 27.5% of respondents reported that ill treatment by superiors got worse after the start of the financialcrisis. You don't have to suffer silently. Here are ways to deal with a difficult boss without scuttling your career:

Cool down. If you've had a disagreement, sit on it for a couple of days, says Richard Hart, director at ProActive ReSolutions Inc., a Vancouver, Canada, company specializing in workplace conflictresolution. Do an honest self-assessment of your own work to determine whether you're doing anything to cause the problem. Ask coworkers and personal friends for some outside perspective. 'If you're still thinking about it after two days, it's probably important enough to require resolution,' he says. At that point, take the time to write down recent incidents of abuse, arguments and anything else that falls outside of a normal employee/management relationship. Be objective about your observations, since your notes may be used down the line if any actions are filed. Writing your thoughts down can also be cathartic.

Go to the source. Employment experts say talking with your boss is usually the best way to solve a problem. 'Have a regular conversation and focus on the problem and not the incident,' Mr. Hart says. You might find the boss isn't aware there is a problem. A recent study done at the University of Iowa showed bad behavior can often be enabled by supervisors who overlook abuse if the boss delivers results. 'Whatever you do, don't be confrontational,' he says. 'Be ready for the fact that the conversation may not go well.'

Find allies. If it seems reasonable, consider talking to another manager within the organization who you trust. They may be able to approach the problem boss as a peer or offer perspective about the behavior that could temper the issue. Look for somebody who is respected by coworkers, who doesn't play office politics and who understands the role that you and your department play in the company.

Seek outside help. If these tactics don't work, seek guidance from the company human-resources department, says Rich Falcone, a labor attorney and partner with Payne & Fears LLP in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They may be able to give you very specific advice, but aren't likely to be able to immediately solve the problem for you. Unless the HR person believes there's a harassment or discrimination issue they're legally bound to report, 'they can keep the matter confidential and work with you,' Mr. Falcone says.

Grin and bear it. If it's critical to your career to simply put up with the boss, try to make the best of the situation. Focus on doing your job well and minimizing conflict. Lean on your friends and family for empathy and support says Joel Mausner, a business psychologist at Irvington, N.Y.-based Workplace Psychology. 'Find other ways to cope like taking up a new hobby or using relaxation techniques,' he says.

Walk away. If nothing else has helped, consider asking for a transfer to another department. 'If you decide to quit, plan ahead,' or you could end up being traumatized by long-term unemployment, says Dr. Mausner. 'You don't want to quit precipitously since you can traumatize yourself even more by facing extended unemployment.'

Dennis Nishi

• international [,intə´næʃənəl] a.国际的，世界的 (初中词汇)
• survey [´sə:vei] vt.&n.俯瞰；审视；测量 (初中词汇)
• institute [´institju:t] n.学院 vt.建立；设置 (初中词汇)
• research [ri´sə:tʃ] n.&vi.调查；探究；研究 (初中词汇)
• treatment [´tri:tmənt] n.待遇；对待；治疗 (初中词汇)
• financial [fi´nænʃəl] a.金融的，财政的 (初中词汇)
• silently [´sailəntli] ad.寂静地；沉默地 (初中词汇)
• director [di´rektə] n.指导者；....长；导演 (初中词汇)
• conflict [´kɔnflikt, kən´flikt] n.&vi.战斗；抵触 (初中词汇)
• resolution [,rezə´lu:ʃən] n.决心；坚决；果断 (初中词汇)
• normal [´nɔ:məl] a.正规的 n.正常状态 (初中词汇)
• writing [´raitiŋ] n.书写；写作；书法 (初中词汇)
• employment [im´plɔimənt] n.工作；职业；雇用 (初中词汇)
• overlook [,əuvə´luk] vt.&n.俯瞰；忽略；观察 (初中词汇)
• reasonable [´rizənəbəl] a.合理的；有理智的 (初中词汇)
• manager [´mænidʒə] n.经理；管理人；干事 (初中词汇)
• temper [´tempə] n.韧度 v.锻炼；调和 (初中词汇)
• politics [´pɔlitiks] n.政治(学)；政治活动 (初中词汇)
• attorney [ə´tə:ni] n.代理人；律师 (初中词汇)
• partner [´pɑ:tnə] n.伙伴 v.同....合作 (初中词汇)
• career [kə´riə] n.经历；生涯；职业 (初中词汇)
• transfer [træns´fə:] v.&n.迁移；调动；转让 (初中词汇)
• crisis [´kraisis] n.转折点；危机 (高中词汇)
• relationship [ri´leiʃənʃip] n.关系；联系；亲属关系 (高中词汇)
• behavior [bi´heiviə] n.举止，行为 (高中词汇)
• allies [´ælaiz, ə´laiz] n.协约国 (高中词汇)
• specific [spi´sifik] a.具体的；特有的 (高中词汇)
• critical [´kritikəl] a.批评的；关键性的 (高中词汇)
• psychology [sai´kɔlədʒi] n.心理(学) (高中词汇)
• unemployment [,ʌnim´plɔimənt] n.失业；失业人数 (高中词汇)
• objective [ɔb´dʒektiv] a.客观的 n.目标 (四级词汇)
• tactics [´tæktiks] n.策略；战术 (四级词汇)
• guidance [´gaidəns] n.向导，指导，领导 (四级词汇)
• confidential [,kɔnfi´denʃəl] a.极受信任的；心腹的 (四级词汇)
• disagreement [,disə´gri:mənt] n.不一致；争论 (六级词汇)
• perspective [pə´spektiv] n.望远镜 a.透视的 (六级词汇)
• discrimination [di,skrimi´neiʃən] n.区别，歧视 (六级词汇)
• legally [´li:gəli] ad.合法地 (六级词汇)
• psychologist [sai´kɔlədʒist] n.心理学家 (六级词汇)
• taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (六级词汇)
• extended [iks´tendid] a.伸长的；广大的 (六级词汇)