What a Threat Begets (fivecentnickel.com)

Not only was Ned good, he was too good. Any more brilliance from him, and she might be leapfrogged on the corporate ladder by the very man whose job performance she graded. When Ned's next job review came around, he had reason to expect an even more glowing appraisal. Instead, his boss tore into him, ripping his decision-making skills and marginalizing his contributions to the company. And from all accounts she managed to pull it off with a straight face.

If you get stuck under an insecure boss who is scared you are going to show them up, the skill is to engineer a transfer somewhere in the company to "broaden your horizons". If you are in a small startup with nowhere to transfer to and the incompetent boss owns the company, run.

If you are driving unprecedented revenue to your company go to your bosses boss, the CEO, whoever it takes. Getting pushed out is stupid, if you are good at what you do and love it then fight. You have nothing to lose. I don't understand people who will give their lives to a company, truly believe in what it makes, the people who make it, and the problem it solves, and fold in the face of this.

This has happened to me more times that I'd like to admit.

One tip I can give if you find yourself in this situation: Try to make friends with your boss's boss. Be preemptive. Before he has a chance to turn on you, you need to turn on him.

I'm still amazed that such brilliant Paul and Ned could not figure out politics as it happend all the time in most of the companies. The question i'm interested in is What had prevent them to use their superior skills to take care of themselves ?