Video Discussion: Working for a Crazy Boss










In the following short video (3 minutes), two people discuss a study that suggests your boss might be crazy.

Psychologist Jeff Gardere offers insight (understanding, perception) into this personality type.

The psychologist says that bosses who are psychopaths:

- "Are narcissistic, egocentric, and have no empathy or conscience."

- "They also lie, can be aggressive, manipulative, and charming."

- "Do not care what happens to you."

- "When you stop producing or if you have problems, they will fire you (remove you from your job)."

In addition, he says that if you have a psychopathic boss:

- "Do not follow their model and distance yourself from him or her, if you see that they are breaking rules (not following or respecting rules)."

In the video, you will see and hear the following vocabulary and expressions:

- "Personality disorders rampant among bosses." (That means that personality problems can be an epidemic problem in bosses.)

- "When there is smoke, there is fire." (We use this expression to say that because a situation seems bad, there is something wrong, or there is a problem.)


PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

  • Have you ever had a boss who was a psychopath?
  • What did he or she do?
  • How did you manage the situation?

Tell me about your experience by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    hello Terry

    J think my actually boss is a psychopath, because
    he tell me very often j am his best employee and want me began a second manager but j think it not true j think he lie me becausse he need me because
    j work very quickly and very well and he wants j stay in his department he promised that j will have a manager stage and participe at managers meeting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry KaufmanJanuary 31, 2012 at 9:57 AM

      Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

      I am sorry to hear that you think your present boss is a psychopath. Based on your words, I think you doubt his sincerity and honesty. He thinks you are an excellent and serious worker and he wants to promote you and train you. But you think he is lying to you because he wants you to stay in his department.

      What are you going to do? How are you going to manage this situation?

      Take care and I wish you the best,

      Terry

      Delete
  2. monique.melosso@laposte.netFebruary 1, 2012 at 11:07 AM

    Hello Terry,

    Thank your for reply, As I told you yesterday I have to observe his comportment during the following weeks to verifie his actions
    Although, I have to keep a delay to react when something stress me
    I think I must have a deep breath before react - I ll try to practice next week with by boss and my colleagues

    Best regards

    MM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terry KaufmanFebruary 1, 2012 at 12:18 PM

      I think taking a deep breath before reacting is an excellent way to manage stress!

      Thank you for helping me to remember that!

      Terry

      Delete

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