Last week and today I had a seminar about power play and manipulation. It wasn't my idea to go to this seminar, but my boss "recruited" me, because otherwise there wouldn't be enough people enrolled and the seminar would be canceled. It was reasonably interesting, despite the irritating "coaching" style of the teacher (applause after every exercise, hyper enthusiasm, etc.) But there was a lot of role playing (not something I'm particularly fond of)... Just imagine being told that you have to do a role play with your boss where you have to try and manipulate him/her, and you know she's tough as nails, and you're worried about what she thinks of you... Slightly awkward
But we did laugh a lot. Strange to say, but my boss has been absent a lot lately, and I miss her.