Dear Sally
It seems that we are working around our staff instead of for our patients. I get very depressed because the owner does not let me do my job. He tells me one thing then will turn around and say the opposite to someone else. I have been in the dental field since 1976. Are there any pointers I can give him at our next meeting? Would love to hear from you and get your input.

Thanks,
Cindy
Office Manager

Dear Cindy,
First of all, remember what your Mother always told you? If you can’t stand the heat…get out of the kitchen. The fact that your job and or environment is causing you to be “depressed” and leaves you feeling bad….well, who wants to deal with that day in and day out? Not me. Now, it depends on personality types. Mine for example, has no problem being confrontational. I would request a meeting with my employer and I would tell him how his behavior is affecting not only your performance but the attitude of all the employees. You, nor the employees, know who to trust at this point. You’re supposed to be a “boss” as an office manager but then the real “boss” undermines you. That means he has no respect for you and does whatever he wants in order that whomever he is dealing with, at the time, “likes” him. You do not want to call him out at the meeting, if staff are there, but this must be done privately. My guess is that he won’t change. My guess is that his behavior as you see it now has been that way for years and years and years.
I’d reference back to my 2nd sentence.

Hope this helps.
Sally