Princesses, Frogs, Ghouls make a spooky workplace

Your average retailer may think it's already time for Christmas, but I say we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

It's the Halloween season, for goodness sakes. Let's enjoy the candy while we can.

And while we're at it, maybe now is a good time to try to identify the costumes our co-workers are wearing at the office every day — whether they know it or not.

Andy McCabe, a life coach and graduate of the Rutgers School of Applied and Professional Psychology, has presented programs on stress management to educational, health, law enforcement and corporate groups. He also recently contributed to a press release in which he identifies some of those Halloween-ish identities in the office, including:

• The Fairy Princess. McCabe writes that she's beautiful and knows it, which means male bosses let her get away with coming in late or not doing her fair share of work. "If her boss is a woman, she may be in the deep end of the pool without her water wings; however, often she’s so good at manipulating that, if she can find a chink in the woman’s armor, she and the boss will become best buds," McCabe writes.

I don't remember working with a Fairy Princess, but it sounds like an unpleasant experience.

• The Frog. This is usually a man — and an annoying one. McCabe writes that the Frog is always nearby, asking questions and telling stories "and yes, like the frog ... ribit, ribit ... he repeats himself. You're busy, have lots to do, and you see the frog coming and there's nowhere to hide."

I think every office has one — or more — of these. I've experienced my share of them over the years. They're especially hard to deal with when you're a manager, because then you have to try not only to protect yourself, but also to divert them when they're heading for your team members. That can be truly challenging.

• Richard Nixon. McCabe writes that this person talks, without taking a breath, in a monotone voice. "He thinks he knows everything and that you want to hear him blab on and on about himself and how brilliant he is."

Yikes! Imagine a Frog/Nixon hybrid. Truly scary.

• Lance Romance. "He's smooth, charming, good looking and, like the Princess, he knows it and does not have to follow the rules meant for mortal men," McCabe writes. "In his mind, he's a god and should be treated as such. ... If he's single and the boss is his wingman, you might want to buy the large bottle of Advil or look for another job."