To call this person anything less than an a hole is to gloss over this person’s charms. Autocratic, dictatorial, abrasive, obnoxious, unpleasant, mean, nasty, bombastic… all euphamisms when applied to the emotional wreckage this person is often able to create.
How to recognize A-Hole Dictators
- They are combative and love to fight.
- They can’t win until someone else loses.
- They are vindictive.
- They drive others relentlessly, always demanding more work faster. They are impatient in the extreme.
- They tell others how to do their work.
- They try to humiliate others.
- They exaggerate negatives and ignore positives.
- They frustrate easily.
- They have fragile egos.
- They are not warm, but they do run hot!
- They are often smart.
- They have readily apparent authority problems.
- They believe team spirit is what binds losers together.
- They are detailed.
- They are poor delegators.
How to deal with the A-Hole Dictator
- Check your ego at the door.
- Prepare to withstand mental and verbal abuse without responding.
- Present the bottom line… but have all your details ready to go.
- Some dictators like others with a little spunk: if the dictator is surrounded by strong people, then when you are attacked, stand your ground, or even push back a little. Don’t push too far, and don’t push at all if the person is surrounded by weak-minded individuals.
- Learn what you can from the person and get out.
- Present multiple ideas and prepare to back down from all but the most important one.
- Use subtle flattery when backing down from ideas about the wisdom of the challenge the dictator presented.
- Be ready to go into deep detail on any aspect of your work at any time.
- Always focus on execution and forward progress. Do not try to engage in a conversation about why something happened, do not offer mea culpas, do not look for closure on the past.
This can be a very aggravating person to work for. If you work for an a-hole, I recommend that you buy a pack of cigarettes and smart smoking. That way, you can at least escape a few times a day to get a nicotine high. (Of course, I’m kidding. You’d be much better off just hitting the gym. Or the bottle. Your choice.)
 | Enjoy this blog? Listen to my new podcast, Beyond Social. |
I'm Jason. I make people shine. My mission is to help 1 million people tell their stories better. 