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Episode
94

Managing Up: How to Handle an Unpredictable Boss

By
Hannah Kissel
August 18, 2026
•
10
min
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About the episode

He's a "great guy" but he calls pregnant teammates "disabled," doles out off-color jokes in your one-on-ones, and swings between warm and erratic so fast you get emotional whiplash. Sound familiar? In this episode of Hannah Hotline, we break down how to handle a boss who's unpredictable and inappropriate without quitting and without losing yourself. This isn't about managing his moods; it's about protecting your own sanity and career while you're in his orbit.

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Here's what we cover:

  • Why his behavior is classed as bullying and harassment (even if it's not aimed at you)
  • The psychology of "hypervigilance" and why you feel on edge all the time
  • Exactly what to say when he crosses a line (scripts included)
  • How to get clarity on his inconsistent decisions without confrontation
  • The one habit that protects you if things escalate: documenting everything


Timestamps:

01:00 — The listener's dilemma: the "great guy" with the off-color comments
02:35 — Why this behavior is bullying and harassment even when it's not aimed at you
04:17 — The power dynamic at play (and why millennials stay quiet)
04:50 — How to speak up: scripts for shutting down inappropriate comments
06:38 — The golden rule: document everything
07:28 — How to manage his inconsistent decisions (get clarity in writing)
08:58 — What's actually in your control (and what's not)
09:17 — The recap: protect yourself, don't manage his moods

‍

Hi there, I'm Hannah

Executive Coach, podcaster, speaker, writer, and builder of big f*cking Dreams. My mission? To help ambitious professionals build self-acceptance, self-trust in their careers.

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