How does it happen, he asks, that sociopaths and narcissists are promoted to positions of prominence and control? Perhaps, as Socrates suggested, because the good man (I would add, woman) doesn't want the position; therefore, he is just the person who should be asked, convinced, recruited to serve in a leadership position, not have it given to the person who connives, schemes, grasps and bullies his/her way into power.

I've recovered from my initial "Oh, no!" reaction and I'm stepping back to look at the big picture, the long view. I've worked out a couple of "what if" strategies--after all, I've known this person for nearly 20 years. I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. So just relax and go with the flow, don't take things personally, I tell myself.

The most important change will be that I will have to log everything I do, date and time stamp it, so that I can verify what work I've done, and how long it took to do it. It's tedious and time-consuming, but I've had to do it before, so it becomes as automatic as note-taking in college lectures. CYA, I believe it's called.

The most difficult part will be to try to keep the current team working together harmoniously and effectively. The new boss plays favorites, setting up one employee against the other. There are ways to counter such actions and deal with them, but again they use up energies and attention that could better be spent productively. OK, so I can deal with it.

Now I'm at equilibrium point again. Onward into the fog!