Have you ever worked with a boss who made everything so urgent that you never knew what was truly important? If so, you probably haven’t forgotten how frustrating it is to be unable to prioritize.

Or you may have worked for someone who required an immediate response for every little request, making you feel like you were living in a constant state of emergency.

Or maybe you’ve had to choose between two genuinely critical priorities, both equally important to your boss.

In reality, when everything is labeled urgent, it turns out that nothing really is. We can’t know what’s important, which means we can’t know how to respond. You may not be able to change your boss, but you can change how you respond to make the best of a bad situation. Here are some helpful ideas:

Manage your boss. Before you can manage the emergencies, you have to learn to manage your boss. The way you respond to your boss’s urgent requests can either reinforce his way of acting or steer yourself in a healthier direction.

Tackle the issue head-on. When the next five-alarm fire comes along, communicate the challenge to your boss and ask her for a plan to help you deal with the competing priorities. Face the facts and don’t let your emotions get in the way. Don’t wait until your boss approaches you and asks you why you haven’t done what you were told to do.

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