How to Identify and Wrangle Your Crazy Boss!
| On the trip up, down and across the office ladder, often you will have to deal with the crazy boss. Maybe it's just that it takes a touch of insanity to claw your way into management, or maybe, as they say, power corrupts, and in the process corrupts one's power to grasp reality.
The idea that many bosses may be clinically insane is an actual topic of research.  Psychopathologist Robert Hare at the university of British Columbia has shown through testing that we tend to elevate, celebrate and reward executives who show indifference toward hurting others.
Further adding to the crazy boss canon are Fortune magazine columnist and workplace guru Stanley Bing's books on the subject. One of Bing's more recent works is the updated "Crazy Bosses," which looks into the minds of people in positions of power. "The people who end up as leaders in any organisation, large or small, are often the craziest guys around," Bing writes. "It has ever been thus. And it is so today, big-time." In his book, Bing outlines five classic types of crazy bosses, gives an overview of their characteristics and suggests how to deal with them. Which loony leader signs your paycheck? Meet the Bully, the Wimp, the Narcissist and others after the jump. The Bully: A common type of crazy boss who shows up at most organisations, the Bully's attributes include perfectionism, meanness and a fierce, one-way conception of loyalty. Bing says that it's important to have a certain degree of obedience to deal with a Bully boss, but that you also have to show a little spine to avoid getting "munched up". The Paranoid: This type of boss is extremely defensive and feels constantly wronged, so he lashes out unpredictably, changing his mood with the weather. Never directly challenge someone who's paranoid or play into their fears, according to Bing. It's also important to take the paranoid delusions in stride and try to find humour in the situation. But, be warned, Paranoids have a sixth sense for people laughing behind their backs. The Narcissist: The boss with bipolar behavior -- one minute they're expansive and creative and excited, and the next they are racked with despair and intense anxiety. Try to keep this boss feeling personally comfortable and let him have the credit for successes, because that's what's most important. But don't trust the Narcissist, notes Bing. This boss is always looking out for number one. The Wimp: The Wimp boss is always worried about his own feelings of inadequacy. He is most comfortable in creating processes and bureaucracies that will shield him from failure. When a quick decision is needed, the Wimp, writes Bing, will often dither and focus on meaningless details. To deal with this kind of boss, one of the things you need to do is remember to cover for him; when he feels exposed, you'll be in danger. The Disaster Hunter: This crazy boss is driven by his most base emotions -- desire, lust, hunger -- and can never be satisfied with what he's got, writes Bing. He makes impulsive decisions, takes massive inadvisable gambles, and won't heed warnings from the people around him. These guys are the workaholics, the sexaholics and the alcoholics. They make really dumb moves even though they know better, just for the momentary pleasure (see: Eliot Spitzer and Bill Clinton). |