Theory F

The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease

If a bully bureaucracy is giving you the round-a-round from one department to another, keep someone from each department involved with your problem. One way to do this is to...

Bears & Honey

Real bears in the woods are quite intelligent animals who do not have a tendency to bully. They only become belligerent when provoked or when they feel threatened...

Avoid Begging

Bureaucrats tend to reduce their clients to beggars. If they have something you need they seem to gain some power by having you beg for it...

Secret Agents are for Hire

Old soldiers may fade away while spies and counter spies become private consultants...

Bullies Have Bosses They Fear

Every bully has a boss, an enemy, a worrisome adversary or all three. A sense of insecurity will often cause a person to act like a bully. Disarm a bully by seeking the source of that insecurity...

Return to Top of Page

Identify a Bureaucrat for Future Reference

There are several reasons and several methods for identifying a bureaucrat for future reference...

Test the System

Knowledge of how a system works is most beneficial when influencing or predicting outcomes. Add this technique to your bag of survival tricks...

Are You Dealing With POPOs or Shooting Stars?

POPOs are bureaucrats who have been Pissed On and Passed Over, while Shooting Stars are on the fast track to upper management. Both can be of value to you...

Supervisors Have Survived in the System Longer Than Others

Supervisors have survived in the system longer than others, however, it's important to remember that competence is not the only criterion for attaining seniority...

Do It and Duck

A bureaucrat who is successful navigating around his or her bureaucracy and achieving outstanding results, often uses this strategy...

Clever Bureaucrats Pass the Buck

Have you noticed whenever you approach a bureaucrat many will state your problem does not belong in their department? In order to avoid complaints and other issues, a bureaucrat's goal is to minimize risk by passing you, and your problem, on to someone else...

Climb the Hierarchy for Action

When you've exhausted all your moves for gaining satisfaction from a bureaucrat, start climbing up the hierarchy...

Control the Paper

Controlling paper depends on your access. You can be the author, possessor, distributor or all three. Of course, power and influence emanates the greatest from the latter. Always remember to save copies of critical documents...

Enquiries About Personal Welfare can Soften a Bureaucrat's Heart

Many bureaucrats love to talk about themselves and about the problems of working in an environment where one must always be on the defensive. This is a phenomenon that can be exploited...

Does the Federal Bully Live in a Small Community?

It would seem impossible to fight against the might of the federal government. Fortunately, federal governments diversify. Various departments are located in small communities for political and other purposes. This can be used to your advantage...

Confront Your Combatant With a Series of Questions

If someone is being combative towards you put yourself in their shoes. List the top ten questions your combatant would not want to hear...

Form Versus Process

Bureaucracies survive and prosper when all bureaucrats follow prescribed forms and procedures, while entrepreneurs are more concerned about process...

Keep a Dirt Box

Are you locked into a long-term relationship with bureaucratic bullies? There are several options open to you, we suggest you keep a dirt box...

Get the Name, Rank and Serial Number

Develop the habit of always getting a caller's name and, if possible, the person's title or function at the outset of any conversation...

Fill in All the Blanks of a Government Form

Bureaucrats consider it an insult when someone neglects to fill in a blank section of the form around which their entire livelihood revolves. This insult deserves punishment or even a counter-attack. The more naive or stupid your insertion the more nurturing you will receive from the all-knowing gatekeeper...

Three Strikes You're In

Some times you may have to take more than three swings to score a hit. There are a few things you can try when you sense you are not being served well...

Return to Top of Page

The Bigger They Are the Harder They Fall

In the schoolyard we discovered our reputation traveled faster and became more exaggerated when we bested the biggest bully in the yard. This discovery also applies to the marketplace...

Know How to Spot a Bully

Sometimes the signs of a bully are very apparent and at other times they are very subtle. To avoid being bullied it's important to first recognize the bully...

Bullies Come in Various Sizes

We tend to have a preconceived perception that bullies are big, strong and have enough power to hurt you. This perception can distort our reactions to threats...

Keep 'Em Off Balance

Anyone familiar with the basics of boxing or the martial arts, knows the importance of maintaining balance. The objective is to knock your opponent off balance...

Turn the Fear Around

Instead of being afraid of others, act as though they should be afraid of you...

Act Like a Porcupine

In the schoolyard or in the alley, hit as hard as you can in the first foray in order to gain some immunity in the future. There's a good chance the bully was going to hurt you anyway...

Name Dropper? Call the Name

A name dropper is trying to intimidate you with implication or overt references...

Anger Is the Best Antidote to Fear

It is said that anger is the opposite to fear. Your anger will give you the courage to face greater threats...

Counterattacking a Bully with Words

Create and rehearse clever retorts for matching wits with a bully. These are not meant to be scripts. These suggested conversations are more effective when expressed in your own words...

Return to Top of Page