SteerClear Strategies
Survive. Navigate. Outlast.
// Professional Survival Guide

You Can't Always Avoid Them.
So Learn to Outlast Them.

Practical strategies for surviving narcissistic bosses, toxic colleagues, and the workplace nightmares nobody puts in the job description.

Get the Playbook Work With Me
You're Not Imagining It
// by the numbers
75%
of workers have left a job because of a bad manager
1 in 5
employees report working for a narcissist
Most
HR situations go better when you walk in prepared
// What This Is
"Some people you can't avoid. You need the job. You need the paycheck. You need the strategy."

AvoidingAssholes.com is where you go to laugh about it. SteerClear Strategies is where you go to survive it. This is the tactical companion for anyone who has to show up Monday morning and deal with someone who makes that deeply unpleasant.

No toxic positivity. No "have you tried communicating better?" No victim-blaming wrapped in corporate speak. Just real talk and real tools for navigating difficult people in professional settings.

🎯
Identify What You're Actually Dealing With
There's a difference between a difficult boss and a narcissistic one. The playbook is different. Know what you're up against.
🛡️
Protect Yourself While You Navigate
Documentation, boundaries, paper trails. The unsexy stuff that keeps you legally covered and emotionally intact.
🗺️
Find Your Exit or Your Peace
Sometimes you leave. Sometimes you stay and win. Either way, you deserve a plan that isn't just "hang in there."
🤝
Know You're Not Alone
The confessional wall exists because misery loves company, and sometimes just hearing "same" is the most validating thing in the world.
// The Playbook
Survival Strategies
That Actually Work

Not feel-good platitudes. Not HR talking points. These are the moves that protect your career, your sanity, and your exit options.

01
The Documentation Habit
Every incident, every email, every promise made and broken. A paper trail is your best friend in any dispute and your insurance policy against gaslighting.
Self-protection
02
Managing the Narcissist
Narcissistic bosses have predictable patterns. Once you understand the playbook they're running, you can stop reacting and start maneuvering.
Tactical
03
The HR Reality Check
HR can be a real ally — if you know how to approach them strategically. Here's when to escalate, how to document your case, and how to make the conversation work in your favor.
Systems
04
Grey Rock Method
Become boring. Become unreactive. Toxic people feed on your response. This technique makes you the least interesting target in the room.
Psychology
05
Strategic Visibility
When someone is undermining you, your work needs to be seen by the right people. How to build allies and ensure your contributions aren't buried.
Career
06
The Clean Exit Plan
Leaving without burning bridges you might need. What to say, what not to say, how to negotiate your departure, and how to protect your references.
Exit
// The Confessional Wall
Anonymous Stories
from the Trenches

Because sometimes you just need someone to say "yes, that actually happened, and it was insane."

“
My boss cc'd my entire department on an email correcting a mistake — that he had made. When I pointed it out privately, he said I needed to "learn how to take feedback." I documented everything for six weeks, then escalated. He was managing a different team within the month. I stayed. He didn't.
KM
anonymous // tech
Finance
“
She used to call my ideas "interesting" in meetings and then present them as her own two weeks later. Word for word. I started emailing ideas to myself before pitching. The timestamps became very useful in my performance review.
PR
anonymous // marketing
Agency
“
He told me I was "too emotional" for raising a factual concern in a meeting. Three other men made the same point before me and were called "passionate." I now have both conversations on record.
SL
anonymous // ops
Healthcare
“
The charm offensive lasted exactly three months — long enough to get me settled in the role. Then the real version showed up. Grey rock was the only thing that worked while I quietly found a better job.
TW
anonymous // sales
SaaS
Add Your Story to the Wall
Totally anonymous. No names, no identifying details. Just the truth, finally somewhere.
🧭
YOUR PHOTO HERE
1:1 Coaching
Available
// Work With Me
Porter Knorr
Workplace Strategist & Coach

I've spent 31 years navigating, studying, and surviving toxic workplace dynamics — and helping others do the same. I'm not a therapist, I'm not an attorney, and I'm not going to tell you the problem is your attitude. I'm going to help you figure out exactly what you're dealing with and what your smartest moves are.

Whether you need a one-time strategy session to get your bearings, or ongoing support while you're in the thick of it, this is a judgment-free zone with real talk and real tools.

🔍
Situation Assessment (60 min)
Tell me everything. We'll map out what you're dealing with, identify the patterns, and leave you with a clear picture of your options and immediate next steps.
// $197 — One-time session
🗺️
Navigation Package (4 sessions)
For when you're in it and need consistent support. We build your strategy, adapt as things shift, and keep you grounded while you execute.
// $597 — Monthly engagement
🚪
Exit Strategy Session (90 min)
You've decided to leave. Let's make sure you do it right: references, timing, negotiation, what to say and what to never put in writing.
// $297 — One-time session
// Stay Connected
Real Strategies.
No Corporate Fluff.

Occasional emails with survival tactics, new stories from the wall, and honest advice for navigating the professionally unbearable. No spam, no toxic positivity, no mandatory group hugs.

// No names. No spam. Just solidarity.