Is Your Boss a Psychopath?

Fast Company ^ | June 22, 2005 | Alan Deutschman

[RicocheT]

Odds are you've run across one of these characters in your career. They're glib, charming, manipulative, deceitful, ruthless -- and very, very destructive. And there may be lots of them in America's corner offices.

...The standard clinical test for psychopathy, Robert Hare's PCL-R, evaluates 20 personality traits overall, but a subset of eight traits defines what he calls the "corporate psychopath" -- the nonviolent person prone to the "selfish, callous, and remorseless use of others." Does your boss fit the profile?

[RicocheT]

Boss from Hell week is coming soon.

[South40]

Try seeing the other side of the coin; try being an employer who's asked to tolerate rude and irresponsible adult employees.

[LIConFem]

My boss isn't a psychopath. He does, however, suffer from "smartest man in the world" syndrome, which manifests itself as an inability to hear or process ideas that didn't originate from between his own ears. Nice enough guy, though.

[Izzy Dunne]

Is Your Boss a Psychopath?

Yes, but I'm self-employed, so what can I do?

[politicket]

Is Your Boss a Pyschopath?

In more ways than you would know!

And the really scary thing is that I'm self-employed in a one man business!

[LIConFem]

Oh, and he does have this "English Boarding School headmaster" thing goin' on. Can be a bit condescending with some of the other staff.

[ExpatGator]

I would love to see the results of the P-tests of most politicians. Methinks there would be some interesting results.

[SF Republican]

I doubt destructive people make it very far

[politicket]

You beat me by TTHHHHAAAATTTT much!

[Williams]

I guess I enjoy reading these articles, but you can read these till the cows come home and no one is going to do anything about these types in American business. I take that back, for the most part tehy will be feared, worshipped and promoted to the top of the ladder where they trash people and of course the organization itself. It's a heck of a thing to witness but I know of absolutely zip that is being done about it in any organization.

[shellshocked]

"who's asked to tolerate rude and irresponsible adult employees."

Those are usually the managers, and any subordinate who is that way is that way because the incompetent manager allows it.

[RushCrush]

The only time I've had bosses like that were when I worked in academia.

[psychedelicate63]

yes he is.

[SoDak]

Is Your Boss a Psychopath?

Mine is a compulsive/obsessive perfectionist. I still like working for him, though. Things run right.

[DeweyCA]

These tests perfectly describe BJ and Hillary. It's scary.

[RushCrush]

for the most part tehy will be feared, worshipped and promoted to the top of the ladder where they trash people

Hmmmm sounds like Martha Stewart!

[politicket]

Hey everyone!

Watch out !!!!!!!!! Izzy Dunne is a troll and is propagating a DEVASTATING tagline virus here on FR. Please be VERY careful in any responses to him!!!!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming

[tarheelswamprat]

Is Your Boss a Psychopath?

Yes, but I'm self-employed, so what can I do?

Downsize.

[edcoil]

Most of these types of bosses are bosses in government since the private sector seldoms allow them to advance and weed them out pretty quickly.

[TheBigB]

"Hey there fellas....whaaaat's happening?"