Don't like the boss? Try the "unboss" instead

Difficult co-workers can be challenging, but Kathleen Davis, host of "The New Way We Work" podcast, suggests several solutions, including inviting them to lunch or coffee to understand better what makes them tick or using "I" statements such as "I know we don't see eye-to-eye, can we work on ways to find common ground?" "Chances are your workplace jerk might be acting that way because of stress you're not aware of. It also might not be personal," Davis notes.

Put it into practice: Some people are just jerks, which means you may need to seek ways to limit the time you spend with them and focus on creating the workplace you want by modeling good behavior and protecting others who may be treated poorly by them, Davis advises. "In the face of bad behavior, it's hard to let go of the desire to make someone change. But you are the only person you have control over."

Cultural intelligence is a key component of executive coach Navid Nazemian's methodology as he helps leaders navigate diverse environments by developing cultural intelligence, adapting leadership styles and fostering inclusive leadership practices. "I firmly believe that executive coaching should be seen as a targeted instrument for continuous leadership improvement and organization growth, not merely a solution for leadership crisis management," Nazemian says.

Researchers' new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope corroborate inconsistencies in the rate of cosmic expansion data from the Hubble Space Telescope, concluding that Hubble tension isn't caused by Hubble data errors, according to a study published in Astrophysical Journal. Study author and Nobel laureate Adam Riess says dark energy or an unknown factor might be influencing the universe's expansion and that "our understanding of the universe may be incomplete."

Ah, jerks. The world is full of them, isn't it? Some jerks we can get away from, and some jerks we can't, especially if they are your boss or co-worker.

I've worked for a couple of jerks, and each time, it truly felt personal. The first jerk was a boss at a radio station I worked at and he would make snide comments and less than subtle hostile actions toward me. The second jerk was the same, though he was more overt in his comments, insulting me in front of my co-workers. At least the first one made the majority of these comments during one-on-one meetings.

I tried much of Kathleen Davis' advice. I tried to get to know them, to understand them better. I had to work with them, so I tried my best to be professional and not take their words and actions personally.

It's tough, though, when you feel like you've tried everything and nothing changes their behavior. This is where Davis' wisdom comes in handy. You are the only person you have any control over. That means, even though the jerk may always be a jerk, you have the power not to let them rile you, not to allow them to live in your head and become yet another critic. I allowed both of those bosses to live rent-free in my head for too long.

Their opinion of me and how they treated me did not reflect my skills, talents and ambition. The proof of that statement is that I moved on. I advanced in my career. One of those bosses? He's still at the same small market radio station to this day.

Jerks are a fact of life, but reminding yourself that you are the only one who can control your life and how it's lived is the key to freedom. I love the Margaret Atwood quote Davis brings up: Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

As John Baldoni wisely advises, live your life from a place of love, service, connection, meaningful work and a willingness to learn, and no jerk will ever be able to bring you down.

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