7. Don't Poke the Bear

Want a surefire way to snap your boss out of her stupor? Question her conduct. You see, the one thing your boss cares about is collecting a paycheck. Anything that threatens her cushy deal will backfire on you. Cornered, your boss will threaten, fight dirty, find excuses, and make it personal. She'll view you as a troublemaker, knowing you have the guts to say what everyone else thinks. Of course, you have other options--worse ones. Go to your boss's superiors? Guess what: They only care about the numbers. Don't forget, higher ups don't stomach complaints or criticism easily. At best, they'll write you off as a pest; at worst, as a treasonous snitch. You could try turning to people at human resources. When push comes to shove, they're inclined to side with management, notwithstanding your documentation. Either way, you'll be branded as someone who cannot work issues out yourself. You're better off biting your tongue.