THE PROBLEM
I think my boss may be bipolar. He's either charging around making bold decisions or he's paranoid, negative and bullying. In the "up" moods he's stimulating, though exhausting. The rest of the time he's paranoid and hostile. I've worked for him for two years and though I admire his talent I find his mood swings increasingly stressful. A couple of weeks ago I tried to broach the matter but he looked as if he was about to have a coronary, so I shut up. Is there anything I can do?
我認(rèn)為我的老板可能是個愛走極端的人。他要么威風(fēng)八面地做出大膽決定，要么多疑、負(fù)面而且恃強(qiáng)凌弱。在情緒"高漲"的時候，他是個令人興奮的人，盡管也令人感到疲憊。其余的時間，他多疑而且懷有敵意。我已經(jīng)為他工作了2年。盡管我欽佩他的才干，但我發(fā)現(xiàn)他越來越反復(fù)無常。幾周前，我設(shè)法把這個問題提出來，但他看上去好像就要犯心臟病了，因此我閉上了嘴。我該怎么做呢？
LUCY'S ANSWER
So many readers have sent messages saying that their boss is as erratic and as bonkers as yours that it makes one wonder if there are any normal, stable ones around - especially in investment banking.
許多讀者已經(jīng)發(fā)來郵件說，他們的老板像你的老板一樣古怪，而且精神不正常。這使人想知道，是否還存在正常、可靠的老板--特別是在投資銀行業(yè)。
There are two reasons why there are so many nutters in these jobs. People who make it to the top of competitive industries are too driven to be well balanced. And even if they were tolerably normal to start off with, the stress, the power and the glory often makes them demented in the end. Or it leads them to seek further thrills in cocaine (or similar) - which makes them more demented still.
有兩個原因致使這些行業(yè)有這么多瘋子。在競爭性行業(yè)中處于頂端的人，緊迫感過強(qiáng)了，無法實現(xiàn)良好的平衡。即便他們一開始尚能表現(xiàn)正常，但壓力、權(quán)力和榮耀往往使他們最終精神錯亂。或者，這會使他們通過可卡因（或類似毒品）尋求更大的興奮--而這將讓他們精神更加錯亂。
Though the problem is widespread, no one seems to have any idea of how to make it better. As you discovered, confronting him is pointless. You just about got away with it last time: next time instead of having a coronary he might chop your head off.
盡管這個問題很普遍，但似乎沒人能想出辦法改善這種狀況。正如你所看到的，對抗他是沒有意義的。你上一次只是僥幸逃脫：下一次，他或許不是犯心臟病，而是砍下你的腦袋。
The obvious solution would be to find someone else more senior in your company to go to for help. The fact you haven't done this suggests there isn't a benign boss above him. You could turn to HR, though I don't like your chances: an HR lackey usually has little sway over a Master of the Universe.
一個明顯的解決方案，就是在你的公司里向一個職位更高的人需求幫助。你沒有這么做，說明在他之上沒有好老板。你可以求助于人力資源部，但我認(rèn)為你沒什么勝算：一個人力資源部的馬*精通常不會得罪"宇宙主人"
If he is as bad as you say he is, and particularly if the problem is drugs, he will probably get fired eventually, but it may take time. In the meantime, you have to insulate yourself from his moods. I suggest you constantly remind yourself that your boss is mad, bad and dangerous to know. Laugh at him behind his back with your colleagues. Every time he does something horrendous, think how much you will enjoy retelling the anecdote later on. And while you are laughing, keep an eye on the job ads - and hope your new boss isn't just as bad.
如果他像你說的一樣壞，而且如果真的是因為毒品的原因，他最終將被解雇，但這或許需要時間。同時，你必須將你自己隔絕在他的情緒之外。我建議你經(jīng)常提醒自己，你的老板瘋了，很壞，而且危險。在他背后和同事一起嘲笑他。每當(dāng)他做出一些可怕的事情，就想一想你隨后講述這段軼事的時候?qū)⑹嵌嗝从腥?。而?dāng)你在大笑的時候，關(guān)注一下招聘廣告--并希望你的新老板沒這么壞。
I think my boss may be bipolar. He's either charging around making bold decisions or he's paranoid, negative and bullying. In the "up" moods he's stimulating, though exhausting. The rest of the time he's paranoid and hostile. I've worked for him for two years and though I admire his talent I find his mood swings increasingly stressful. A couple of weeks ago I tried to broach the matter but he looked as if he was about to have a coronary, so I shut up. Is there anything I can do?
我認(rèn)為我的老板可能是個愛走極端的人。他要么威風(fēng)八面地做出大膽決定，要么多疑、負(fù)面而且恃強(qiáng)凌弱。在情緒"高漲"的時候，他是個令人興奮的人，盡管也令人感到疲憊。其余的時間，他多疑而且懷有敵意。我已經(jīng)為他工作了2年。盡管我欽佩他的才干，但我發(fā)現(xiàn)他越來越反復(fù)無常。幾周前，我設(shè)法把這個問題提出來，但他看上去好像就要犯心臟病了，因此我閉上了嘴。我該怎么做呢？
LUCY'S ANSWER
So many readers have sent messages saying that their boss is as erratic and as bonkers as yours that it makes one wonder if there are any normal, stable ones around - especially in investment banking.
許多讀者已經(jīng)發(fā)來郵件說，他們的老板像你的老板一樣古怪，而且精神不正常。這使人想知道，是否還存在正常、可靠的老板--特別是在投資銀行業(yè)。
There are two reasons why there are so many nutters in these jobs. People who make it to the top of competitive industries are too driven to be well balanced. And even if they were tolerably normal to start off with, the stress, the power and the glory often makes them demented in the end. Or it leads them to seek further thrills in cocaine (or similar) - which makes them more demented still.
有兩個原因致使這些行業(yè)有這么多瘋子。在競爭性行業(yè)中處于頂端的人，緊迫感過強(qiáng)了，無法實現(xiàn)良好的平衡。即便他們一開始尚能表現(xiàn)正常，但壓力、權(quán)力和榮耀往往使他們最終精神錯亂。或者，這會使他們通過可卡因（或類似毒品）尋求更大的興奮--而這將讓他們精神更加錯亂。
Though the problem is widespread, no one seems to have any idea of how to make it better. As you discovered, confronting him is pointless. You just about got away with it last time: next time instead of having a coronary he might chop your head off.
盡管這個問題很普遍，但似乎沒人能想出辦法改善這種狀況。正如你所看到的，對抗他是沒有意義的。你上一次只是僥幸逃脫：下一次，他或許不是犯心臟病，而是砍下你的腦袋。
The obvious solution would be to find someone else more senior in your company to go to for help. The fact you haven't done this suggests there isn't a benign boss above him. You could turn to HR, though I don't like your chances: an HR lackey usually has little sway over a Master of the Universe.
一個明顯的解決方案，就是在你的公司里向一個職位更高的人需求幫助。你沒有這么做，說明在他之上沒有好老板。你可以求助于人力資源部，但我認(rèn)為你沒什么勝算：一個人力資源部的馬*精通常不會得罪"宇宙主人"
If he is as bad as you say he is, and particularly if the problem is drugs, he will probably get fired eventually, but it may take time. In the meantime, you have to insulate yourself from his moods. I suggest you constantly remind yourself that your boss is mad, bad and dangerous to know. Laugh at him behind his back with your colleagues. Every time he does something horrendous, think how much you will enjoy retelling the anecdote later on. And while you are laughing, keep an eye on the job ads - and hope your new boss isn't just as bad.
如果他像你說的一樣壞，而且如果真的是因為毒品的原因，他最終將被解雇，但這或許需要時間。同時，你必須將你自己隔絕在他的情緒之外。我建議你經(jīng)常提醒自己，你的老板瘋了，很壞，而且危險。在他背后和同事一起嘲笑他。每當(dāng)他做出一些可怕的事情，就想一想你隨后講述這段軼事的時候?qū)⑹嵌嗝从腥?。而?dāng)你在大笑的時候，關(guān)注一下招聘廣告--并希望你的新老板沒這么壞。