Originally Posted by Boleo

In my job there are sometimes as many as 4 different authority figures who think they are my boss and give me conflicting directions. My real boss is usually too busy to mitigate the situation for me (talk about cognitive dissonance).

My only strategy is something I call "spiritual detachment" which I have down to 4 simple steps;

1. Recognize my part (as well as my limitations)
2. Do my part (only my part)
3. Trust some Higher Power to do it's part (for me it's the Tao)
4. Detach from the outcome

Doesn't work 100% of the time, but at least when it fails, I don't feel like a failure or victim. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I did my part.