However, I fear your boss has underlying problems that won’t be solved with a reduced workload. Your gentle concern could even land you in dangerous territory, where you run the risk of receiving a temperamental response from someone who seems to lack control of their emotions. Plus, you could end up with a ton of extra work that you won’t be able to deliver. This could snowball into your moody boss becoming even more aggravated.

A safer way to cope with your boss’s unpredictable mood swings is to switch your focus onto yourself. In other words, prioritise what you can control and ignore the things you cannot. So the next time your boss is having an erratic episode, practise a form of mindfulness. This will involve you observing what’s happening around you but without reacting to it. Instead, concentrate on your own specific role and personal projects, ignoring any chaos being caused by your boss.

With this focused effort at mindful concentration, achieving a state of serenity will be easier than you might imagine. By directing your mind to your own productivity, you will gradually lose sight of your boss’s instability. If you manage this successfully, you’ll discover the satisfaction of being responsible only for your own moods.

The Honest Boss: “Will I be on eggshells around my unpredictable manager forever?”