[Den-vr]

The professional habit I developed to manage scenario 2 started out as upward directed leadership and sometimes turned into simply coaching my bosses to be better themselves. There's a part that jumps out to me in the OP, the requirements changed so a lot of his work went to waste. Incredibly common. Equally common is management not realizing that it's something that they should take ownership of.

[ModernMech]

Yes, coaching your bosses is something that most people completely overlook as an option. After all they are bosses, and you don't question the boss!

But once you spend some time in the industry you've seen enough that you can recognize the mistakes of your superiors, and you feel comfortable enough to point them out. Because what are they going to do, fire you? Better to be fired by a stubborn boss who refuses to learn than to work under one, I'd say.