They steal your ideas, destroy your deadlines, talk about you behind your back, take advantage of your generosity, criticize you and your ideas, and sabotage your success. They manifest as, and morph into, several different forms, but they’re all difficult people. Understanding them may help you to learn to deal with them. I like to give them names do i don’t take them too seriously.

Bean Counters.  So concerned with bottom line thinking that they can’t create or let you create. The only results that matter to them come in money form. They can’t see the forest because they cut down all the trees.

Princesses. They are so sensitive that you walk on eggshells around them, afraid you may hurt their feelings. You can’t argue with them even when they are wrong. Especially when they are wrong.

Control Freaks. Control freaks who have to have their hands in everything. They like to look over your shoulders while you work, criticizing your thoughts before you get a chance to complete it.

The Frozen. They don’t do what they are supposed to when they are supposed to, so what you were supposed to do gets all screwed up. Somehow you are the one whose failure gets noticed.

Know it All.  They know it all. Anything you can do, they can do better, faster or cheaper. The worst kind will also be condescending.

Moody Blues. They get really excited about a project or idea, but just as easily lose interest. They can be swayed easily.  They will approve your design, then call you back later, saying their next door neighbor looked at it and thought it would be better in red.

Pessimists. They always see the glass as half empty and too big. Afraid to take risks, they tend to be overly critical. They will want twenty proofs instead of two, thirty takes instead of three, and still not be quite happy.

Indecisives.  They can’t make a decision. They sit on the fence and waffle back and forth until you push them. Then they fall and you have a mess to clean up.

Outlaws. Can’t trust them as far as you can throw them. They will take credit for your ideas.

Bullies. Just real jerks. Nasty, mean.

Wizard of Oz. Little tyrants who are insecure, intimidated, and irritable. They often put up a big front, but these are never the real decision makers.

Small People.  Either they run you down to your face or they do things like mask a criticism in a compliment.

Understand that you are a difficult person, too, and pity them for having to deal with you.