I had a manager once, that most of the organization thought was an incompetent hardass. However I just treated him the same way I would any computer API I had

I had a manager once, that most of the organization thought was an incompetent hardass. However I just treated him the same way I would any computer API I had to interact with (although a rather buggy, undocumented API). First, I would have to figure out what he was asking. Then from there (through a series of probing questions presented in a casual conversation style) I would get to what he actually wanted to accomplish. This was often cloaked in secrecy, mostly because he didn't realize that details are important. Finally I would get to what he actually needed. So I would ignore what he said he wanted, give him what he needed, but dress it up in a way so that it looked like it was what he wanted. I can't tell you how much better of a solutions provider and communicator I've become out of that ordeal.