The Bad Boss....Ruling by Power and Intimidation

Good morning all! Well....Good morning to my two official followers. Thank you Robin and Andrea for taking an interest in what I have to say. I hope others will come to follow as well.

On a personal note...The girls are finally off of school for the summer and are still in dream land. Remember those summer days when you were proud of yourself if you got up before noon?? Oh the life of a teenager!! While the snoozing was taking place, I ran to the unemployment office and began the trip down unemployment lane. I was a little nervous about what would be involved. Much to my surprise, I was asked to sit at a computer to fill out a lengthy form. Then I went over to an employee who promptly presented me with a booklet. She highlighted a few things, told me to call in every Sunday with the two job contacts and I was on my way. That was it?? 15 minutes and out!! YIPPEEE

Ok...enough about me. Now let's get on to today's topic. It is one I am fascinated by:


Management through Power and Intimidation

I recently had lunch with a couple of friends and the topic turned to a manager they had both been dealing with for years. This manager loved to rule through his perceived power (AKA: His EGO) and was the king of intimidation. I think we all know the type, the leader who loves to throw their title around and constantly drop less than subtle references to their importance in the universe. When these unique individuals find their way into a management position, it can be devastating to those who are forced to work with them. They unleash unwarranted stress and havoc wherever they go. They are absolutely destructive to employee morale in even the best of work environments.

You see, these power mongers are not interested in serving others to improve work outcomes. They are only interested in sustaining or increasing their sense of power, by siphoning it from others, any way they can. Their classic angle is belittling those around them, and they really get a charge to their ego machine when they have an opportunity to discredit someone. The use of sarcastic barbs and negative quips is their manta. In reality, their negative communication style is really just a smoke screen to mask their own insecurities. Whether they are insecure about their level of technical expertise, or just deep down loath themselves as much as the outside world does, their only hope is to make others feel intimidated, stupid, or downright scared. Ridiculous isn't it??

ADVICE FOR THE LEADER

Now let's face it...every company has these little corporate terrorists running around, and in many cases, the Ogre's own manager avoids dealing with the issue. Why is that??

So....for the managers of these sabotage artists, you need to get off the dime and deal with their behavior head on! Based on their typical "in-your-face" bullying style, you need to take a strong stance by setting very clear and direct expectations for expected behaviors, and the specific consequences for failing to behave accordingly.

Often times, these gems will have every excuse in the book. So let's be clear- There is no acceptable excuse for disrespectful, demeaning, threatening or inflammatory behavior in ANY work environment.

Managers of these individuals also need to reinforce the fact that these behaviors are not isolated incidents but a pattern of unacceptable behavior that will not be tolerated. As a leader, you are putting your own career at risk by allowing one of your employees to create a hostile work environment while you stand idle and turn a blind eye. If you are in a leadership position, then put your big boy/girl pants on and deal with it. You are certainly collecting a management salary, so earn it by minimizing the risk your company is bearing by employing this run away freight train!

Now, once the discussion is over, put your money where your mouth is. Get typing and make sure all incidents are thoroughly documented. You see, in the long run, these types of individuals rarely modify their behavior. This means you are setting the stage for the battle royal when termination comes a knocking....and it will!! Remember- those who live in their ego rarely have enough self awareness to finally see that their behavior is what led to their discipline or termination. So...you better have all of your ducks in a row!

ADVICE FOR THE EMPLOYEE

If you are one of the unlucky individuals who has to put up with the nonsense on a regular basis, hold on for the ride. I know first hand what it is like to have to mentally prepare yourself for dealing with a "corporate terrorist". Here are some tips to help you get through:

1. Remain calm- The Ogre likes nothing more than for you to get emotional. They will monopolize on your negative energy and use it to their advantage. They want nothing more than to turn a situation around on you. Sooo...don't make it about you. Be respectful and get out of the conversation as quickly as possible. Just don't be obvious that you are trying to flee!
2. Out Communicate Them- The Ogre just wants you to just say "yes sir/ma'am" because it reinforces their power. They really don't want to engage in a two way dialogue because that creates a risk that their knowledge may be challenged. Sooo...if you disagree with their point or suggestion, ask them to educate you further on the subject matter. This often times defuses the situation because it will show their lack of knowledge or expertise in the matter. It may also give them a false sense of control, because if you are asking for further information, they think you must see them as the expert they so desire to be. Let's face it, it's all a big mind game with these characters, so learn to play it.
3. Don't Just Lay Down and Die- Depending on the severity of the problem, you may need to step up to the plate and file a complaint. What you need to understand is that companies do not want to be put in the position where a rogue lunatic is running around creating a hostile work environment. Unfortunately, these intimidators learn to create an environment where people are afraid to complain. They know the threat of retaliation exists (because they will) and they use it against you. Fortunately, these individuals usually get so brazen that they don't care who they behave badly in front of (except for their boss of course). Therefore, over time, it shouldn't be difficult to catch them in their bad behavior while others are nearby. Having specifics about the issue will be critical, so write everything down, and ask any witnesses to do so as well. Show some bravery by exposing these people for who they are!! Don't run away from the issue- Escalate It!! You will be rewarded in the end through an improved work environment. You will also feel like a million bucks knowing you have helped to slay the dragon....figuratively of course. : )

Good luck to all of you out there who are currently dealing with one of these characters. I would love to read your comments about this topic. I am also intersted in other leadeship/work place topics or issues you would like to hear more about. Remember....I always have an opinion...and I LOVE TO SHARE IT!