In Ads, It Pays to Aim for the Heart

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In addition, online competition is fierce and often too much for traditional retailers to handle. "Imagine a boxer is fighting Mike Tyson and Tyson is not that intense until the challenger puts on iron gloves. Then, Tyson gets angry," says Liu. "Before the iron gloves, the challenger didn't have to worry about being beaten to death." It's the same for offline stores that enter the online arena. Their entry causes online-only competitors to price aggressively to attract more clicks. Other e-tailers, including manufacturers who can sell their goods directly to the public thanks to the Web, might see this as an opportunity to strike it big.

As a result, sticking to your proven strengths is often the best bet. Otherwise, traditional retailers risk getting knocked out by the competition, and the original store could end up taking a beating as well.

Bossy Bosses

After hearing one too many stories about grouchy or even abusive bosses, Wayne Hochwarter, professor of management at Florida State University, decided to find out if there was truth to the suggestion that people break up with their supervisors and not a particular company.

Along with doctoral students Paul Harvey and Jason Stoner, he surveyed over 700 people from a variety of jobs about their opinions of their supervisors. They found the prevalence of abusive bosses startling. "Many managers don't know how to manage or lead," says Hochwarter. "Most get promoted because they're good at a particular task and that doesn't mean it translates into a leadership role." In fact, the No. 1 reason people leave jobs is because of a poor relationship with their boss.

About 39% of respondents to Hochwarter's survey said their supervisor failed to keep promises, 37% said their boss failed to give credit when it was due, and 31% said their supervisor gave them the silent treatment. And the list of offenses goes on. A full explanation of the study is scheduled for publication in an upcoming issue of The Leadership Quarterly journal.

The tension between managers and subordinates comes from the intensity of an era when fewer people are forced to work more hours. Add to that the complicating factor of dueling generations, who see the world through different glasses, says Hochwarter. Although he admits that many young people have unrealistic expectations about how the business world works, he adds that their lack of loyalty isn't always their fault. "A lot of times, it's not young people jumping ship, it's somebody pushing them off the ship," he says.

If you have a Grinch for a boss, you might want to keep your résumé updated and ready to go. Hochwarter and his team also found that employees carry their work stress home with them, which can cause problems in marriages, and depression. Even on weekends, employees have a hard time escaping the problems. "It's a bad recipe," says Hochwarter. People should stay positive, take action, and protect themselves from abusive bosses, he suggests. The lesson: Next time you're thinking about taking a job, check your list twice to make sure your new supervisor is among the nice and not the naughty.

Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in Fort Lee, N.J.