It’s true, your boss is a psychopath

[babsbunny]

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/06/20/its_true_your_boss_is_a_psychopath/?s_campaign=8315

Surprising insights from the social sciences

By Kevin Lewis
June 20, 2010

Watching the news some days, you’d think a lot of companies were run by psychopaths. And, according to a recent study, some might well be. One of the authors of the study was hired by companies to evaluate managers — mostly middle-aged, college-educated, white males — for a management development program. It turns out that these managers scored higher on measures of psychopathy than the overall population, and some who had very high scores were candidates for, or held, senior positions. In general, managers with higher scores were seen as better communicators, better strategic thinkers, and more creative. However, they were also seen as having poor management style, not being team players, and delivering poor performance. But, apparently, this didn’t prevent some of them from being seen as having leadership potential. The authors conclude that “the very skills that make the psychopath so unpleasant (and sometimes abusive) in society can facilitate a career in business even in the face of negative performance ratings.”

[cliffordu]

1. Yep.

ladies and gentlemen, I give you Dick Cheney.

I can hardly wait till the fucker dies so I can gather busloads of winos to line up and pee on his grave.

I'll buy them all the mad dog they can drink.

[Duer 157099]

2. Not at all surprising

And to think of the eventual toll this takes on society. Oh wait, I think we *are* seeing it, everywhere, but in particular, in the Gulf of Mexico (and the American economy in general).

It's not just cream that rises to the top; there's also scum and grease and shit.

[Journeyman]

4. Ken Kesey once observed that in society, "Cream rises to the top. . ."

"Cream rises to the top," he said, "and some shit floats."

I was young when I attended that lecture. Of everything he shared that day, his observations on the nature of our social organization remains most vivid.

[I Have A Dream]

3. I'm happy to say that my managers are not like this.

I know that this is rare though.

[stray cat]

5. and so are your co-workers

[CTyankee]

6. This was my sad conclusion that led me to retire in 2004.

I hate to say that it was at a highly respected non-profit organization.

However, this is where, sadly, we are at today. This "no excuses" mentality is fine if it inspires people who are down, but those who are trying hard get even more depressed when told they "don't perform." When they try to change the system, they're told they "don't get it" and are put on the path to being fired.

I gave up. I said I had an elderly mother, a disabled brother, 3 grandchildren and a 4th on the way and I couldn't handle it any more. So I was given a pass, in a way. They knew I was leaving so they let me stay out the rest of the year. At the end of the year I was able to collect Social Security and get on Medicare.

There were 3 other women there over the age of 60 who were systematically cleared out in the 9 months after my departure.

What does that tell you?

[roguevalley]

11. me too in 2003. nuts, total nuts in charge.

[izquierdista]

7. Translation

better communicator = thinks up lies quicker
better strategic thinker = conniving schemer
more creative = invents new ways to steal

Why does everybody mince words?

[RagAss]

8. Amen.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

9. And their point is?? n/t

[90-percent]

10. Not bumper sticker ready yet, but......

ALL OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE FAILING US, ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, BECAUSE ALL OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE RUN BY SOCIOPATHS.

The health ins exec out of Minnesota that "earns" $80,000 a day is a classic example. Because he gets part of that income from DENYING CLAIMS to people that need insurance to save their lives! There is so much scorched earth economic misery inflicted by these insects, and it doesn't even have to be! As Richard Clarke has said about Dick Cheney, these people should no longer be allowed into polite society. They should be scorned by everybody everywhere they go.

-90% Jimmy

[Hannah Bell]

12. thing i've noticed is, people who speak/act more assertively are perceived as being more capable.

while people who speak/act more tentatively are perceived as being indecisive & lacking confidence.

most people prefer being managed by the "confident," & ascribe intelligence & skill to those persons.

but rather often it's not the case. & sometimes it's sheer stupidity, no grasp for details, no concern for who gets stepped on, etc.

e.g. carter v. reagan

[KharmaTrain]

13. An Interesting Parallel...

Money and compulsive behaviors are connected. I had an employer who went from one addiction or compulsion to another...alcohol, amphetimines, gambling...also excessive cleanliness and clock watching. He would drive people crazy with his worst addiction...company greed. While the company set earnings records year after year, it wasn't good enough...he drove harder and harder. In the end, all of his talented people headed for other jobs and today his operation is on life support and I've heard his latest compulsion is being an "avid born again". And, yes, he was very rushpublican.

Our culture has become so absorbed with money and self worth that it's turned the compassion switch off when there's a buck to be made...and it doesn't matter how you make it. There's no such thing as having enough and if the guy across the street has $10 million, then you want $15. Not that you work harder to earn it, just find another way of getting it. Most times its riding others to work harder or cut back on their perks and benefits.

The shame is we still have a large number of people in this country that drank the "corporate will take care of us" kool-aid and still think that greed for the rich may trickle down on them. It sure has...

[kgnu_fan]

14. Because profit is THE priority in our society, not ethic or empathy

We ended up getting people with those evil skills as our leaders...we worship them, value them, elect them even. In some way, we deserve them???