Dangerous People

 We've all encountered "dangerous people" in our lives. They've never been caught and likely never will be. They haven't committed a crime in being dangerous; they've gone on emitting their poisonous manners but what they don't know, is that they can be quite useful. I use, as an example, a boss I once worked for. When he came on the work scene, we were used to a boss that accepted us as we were, appreciated our efforts and was there to help out if we need that kind of support. Our old dear boss had been lifted by the company to higher heights and when we saw the new boss enter the meeting room for the first time, we had high hopes. The company whom we trusted, let us down. They were the danger. Our section was comprised of persons with a great deal of experience. We were appreciated by the people we served and considered part of our system because of being close to them. We understood each other  more and our products were enhanced within that kind of security. But the company suffered concerns thinking that we were just too strong and secure for their liking. They considered it dangerous because although the company over all, was served by us, they felt we had become just a bit too scary and maybe too powerful. We had developed along with our former boss a set of routines and strategies that worked for us all. When the new leader came in, he wanted the power that we would have handed over had he shown some respect. He didn't. We were called into his office one at a time and told what our plan would be and it was his only and had nothing to do with our input or cooperation. Ten people asked for transfers and got them within the first three days of our new boss' "reign". I was retiring in two years so I stuck it out in spite of my "new" schedule and assignment. There were my private tears and anger but after that emotional tide passed through, I decided to get back in control and use my experience to show the new boss what I was made of. We, the boss and I after a civil chat, made a deal and he could see the benefit of it, for some reason. If I had only one more full year to go and a bit, I felt I had some power, too, and I could use it. That bad boss, taught me far more than any other lesson in my working life. Dangerous people might not realize how much they help unknowingly,  their victims. Without the use of anger in dealing with these bullying bosses, they are taken by surprise. They are used to confrontation not cooperation. Using one's brain and knowledge to overcome such threatening people is not physical rantings and complaints, it's knowing your enemy and working out a plan that it cannot step over or on. Dangerous people think bullying and loud noise and threats will get them what they want but aha, it doesn't work that way. A quiet, firm response, is unexpected. Just as someone in the martial arts uses the strength and power of their opponents to win, you, too, can do just that. It's a matter of studying your enemy and seeing how you can accomplish that task. Work beside them and learn how they do it so that you can find a way to do it better without using offensive tactics. You might even, as I learned, teach the bad boss, some lessons. Mine, before he was finally ousted, thanked me!  Pay attention, listen and learn to help yourself. Dangerous people make us stronger and more self-reliant. We draw on their negatives and turn them into our positives. Even if you quit them, you learn from them. It's a lesson one never forgets.