How to deal with aggressive manager and office politics

[zitsky]

OP, my advice to you would be to become really good friends with your boss' boss. Watch your back and make sure that you are liked (and respected) by people higher on the ladder than your boss.

[R. Crusoe]

My advice is:
-Be professional at all times
-Do your job the best you know how
-Stay focus on your tasks
-Try to be helpful to others
-Stay away from all office politics
-Don’t get distracted by work unrelated things
-Ignore trouble makers, back stabbers, gossip suckers, etc.
-Ignore gossips, rumors, trash talk of others, etc.
-Be polite at all times
-Keep a smile if you could

You see, to some inferior workers office politics is like a cup of coffee, a pack of gum, or a cigarette break which provides desperately needed distractions that these people crave just to get thru an otherwise unbearably monotonous boring work day. It is a complete waste of productive time. It is totally juvenile but unfortunately it is a reality of everyday office life. Some silly monkeys will go out their ways to make one feel bad. I wouldn’t pay much attention to it if I were you. Work smart.

[brokensky]

Document. Document, document, document, lol.

I was in a hostile work environment early in my career. Bad situation. I was working for two bosses, with equal power. One realized the other was a psycho. But nothing either of us could do about it, as it was an appointed position in an academic setting.

I consulted w/ an attorney. He advised I keep a daily diary of all events - i.e, instructions f/ the one "bad" boss, all interactions and conversations (and irrational demands, as well as contradictions to what he had earlier instructed me to do or handle, etc).

When possible, I made sure someone else witnessed (heard or saw) the conflicts (being berated by the "bad" boss, temper tantrums, etc).

I would suggest you do the same type of thing, insofar as the problems impact your work and mental well-being.

A diary that is consistently kept up-to-date is recognized as a legal document in a labor hearing.

And then there are smart phones, and video . . . my mac will record meetings/discussions . . . you should always announce that you want a record of meetings so you can make sure you understand all the protocols and can review the creative decisions and/or directives again in the future. You can even offer to send copies to everyone, lol. Just be sure to tell the group you are recording the meeting.