How do you manage an "office psychopath" manager to get them to do their job ?

Question

Their modus operandi is as shown below.

M.O. #1
The art of misinformation.

They muddle up the communication lines. They mix malice into the truth so that their lies sound true.

They usually talk to people separately with different versions of their statements...then when conflict arises, they stand back and just watch... and emerge victorious from the ashes of the conflict.

Protect yourself with diligent documentation. And before jumping to conclusions about anyone, confront them first and VERIFY. Often in this process do organizations smoke out the psychopaths.

M.O.#2

S/he plays devil's advocate. The clever one that is. They feed into whatever friction is already in the process and have an innate ability to play the players to whatever they feel will best suit their desires. For what it's worth, they eventually do get found out. It might not be within your time of present employment but it will come about.

M.O. #3

You can't fight someone like that. You will lose. The only way to deal with it is to put your head down and do your job. Hope you are still there when their walking papers are finally written.

M.O. #4
There is a technique in Pancha tantra that of "mitra Bheda" meaning, creating misundestandings between friends to get ones work done.

The office psychopath shall try this to begin with, of keeping all others who are his potential threat iin different levels, by creating differences among them, and making them ones enemy. When they shall cease to trust one another, he can go on taking all of them for a ride, one by one, after ruling out the possiblity of them meeting and discussing things.

But then, this techniques shall not work with all. If there is a Buddha or Gandhi type personality among the others, the poor psuchopath will not know what to do, and he will be so exposed, that he will have to run away form the situation. Remember, such creeps only thrive at others disunity and meekness.

M.O. #5
Keeps adding fuel to the fire. Either directly or indirectly.

M.O. #6
It is difficult to get two people to agree about something and this is the psychos strength. It is easy for him/her to use peoples natural distrust against them. It is as easy as dropping a simple comment in passing and letting it fester on peoples natural paranoia. As MA said, front the people involved personally to root out the truth. Good luck.

M.O. #7
nothing and blames it on every one else.

M.O. #8
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--% Best answer

robink71668
1
Lie, cheat and steal, pot stirrers. They do whatever necessary, whether it be someone they dislike or are just very competitive with co workers, they just like chaos. I learned the hard way that documenting everything, is the best way to put things to a halt, if it's not on paper......it never happened.

M.O. #9

It is rarely the office psychopath that keeps a state of conflict festering. Office culture is cultivated by some person or group to create an environment where these dominant individuals will prosper. Being yelling or making logical issues personal issues keeps demure people at a distance, reducing competition and allowing people with these traits to succeed. When the psychopath is doing this it is a rare coincidence. The psychopath is typically the one who has little control of office culture.

M.O. #10
Stir the pot to keep it boiling. "Don't you think what she really meant was.....?" "You know so n so said such n such but what I saw with my own eyes was................yeah and with..........." It will work but only if people let it work. And they do. A little paranoia goes a whole lot further in festering than common sense.

Answer 1

This manager needs to give information in writing. When they refuse, start writing it down as they say it. Keep a tablet of their information. When a conflict arises with a coworker, both workers should bring out their tablets, sit down with the manager, and have the manager explain the reasoning. Coworkers should agree ahead of time that the manager has pitted them against each other.

Drs. Rick B. & K. have many great ideas

Answer 2

I had these from time to time when I was in management. You have to be very clear and concise when you tell them what you want done so there is no mistaking what is expected. It's best I think to even ask them to repeat back to you what it is you want. Then you hold them responsible for what you have told them. They also must know what will happen if the work is not performed. Once when the work was not done as agreed the employee said in a rage, "Put it in writing." I did and it went into her personnel file. She went to other employees saying, "She's exercising her authority." My response was, "That's why I have the authority." Did I win? No, because when one situation doesn't work another is found that might. It is an unending and grueling battle, but that is what you get paid for. It's also an idea to ignore them until they scream to your supervisor that you have sinned in some horrendous way and to call a meeting of all the employees for a proper accounting and redressing of an issue. They will try to arrange this while you are hospitalized or on vacation so you can't defend yourself. But you make a point of being there anyway. This one is never a valid point and the whole thing turns out to be like the mole hill turned into a mountain. The psychopath makes life interesting. This person is often addicted to some substance which is also part of the problem.

Answer 3

Managing such a person depends on what you want from them. If they are under you then you truly have a problem.
If they are over you then you are in a good position.
Find a way to get on his good side, make him think you are his operative but don't make it obvious to your co workers. You don't have to act like you like him, just that you believe in his agenda. Be a secret ally in meetings by not openly opposing him.
All the while you work steadily toward his demise...how? By helping him to be successful! Why will this be his demise? Simple; he is obviously too smart to corner and get fired so your only option is his promotion. Then once he is promoted and exposed to a new set of responsibilities, he very likely will be unveiled as incompetant or at the very least, mediocre.
I have seen this happen many times. All you have to do is be compliant and agreeable to his management. Do a good acting job of being calm and compliant. This will pay off big later on when you get his job. Then once you have his job you can show everyone what a bad manager he was. But you will not do this by saying one negative word about him, you will show how bad he was by simply being a better manager yourself.
Remember, Karma is sometimes almost immediate in office politics. Keep your nose clean, choose your battles well and do the extra research to make sure you are always in the right before you commit to any certain position.

Answer 4

I know this type! in time this person will get what they deserve, documentation is key! especially if it involves more than one person, this way it's indisputeable proof this person is a pot stirrer, and is doing more harm than good, I use the ole put them on the spot trick, and bring a lie to the surface and see if they can bail themselves out of it, of course I have had office psycho's lie right to my face, in front of Senior bosses, thank goodness they saw right through it. Give this person enough rope, and they will surely hang themselves!

Answer 5

if he is YOUR manager. you basically have nothing to say because you are his beeyatch. you just have to bend over and take it up your AS$ and live with it.

try reporting it to his 'superior'? who do you think this 'incapable' manager is playing golf with on friday afternoons. it sure isnt your low end scut entry level job.

if you are his BOSS. simple. fire his lame-o AS$. but this is obviously not the case because you have to ask what to do.

other than that, it really isn't any of your business how things are run, esp if you are not his boss or the owner of the company. if you want to tell people what to do...shut your yap, don't complain about other people and work your useless butt up the back stabbing corporate ladder.

if you cant because you're lazy or lack any kind of managerial skill...you are where you will always be...someone's slave.

Answer 6

You can't fight someone like that. You will lose. The only way to deal with it is to put your head down and do your job. Hope you are still there when their walking papers are finally written.