I am definitely not a psychologist, although my wife has suggested I get a degree in psychology. The views behind today's post on working with sociopaths in business results from dealing with a variety of bad personality types and managing relationships with them in my career. A few of these individuals could only be described as corporate sociopaths. If you happen to be working for one directly, they definitely make horrible bosses.
Here's an official description of what a sociopath is. From an organizational perspective, the behaviors below suggest how to spot a sociopath in business. To gauge if you're working with one, ask yourself if the person in question:
Sound maddening? It is when you are dealing with a sociopath in business.
If you see an individual demonstrating a majority of these sociopath traits coupled with a general sense they're hard to do business with, you are likely dealing with a corporate sociopath (at least by my definition).
One key I've found to accomplishing things while working with horrible bosses and other sociopaths in business is to skillfully work around them. If a sociopath thwarts progress, it's vital to maneuver them away from important initiatives that will move the organization forward. Let sociopaths in business wreak havoc on efforts which won't make huge differences one way or another.
The following suggestions are premised on you not being able to take formal steps for dealing with a sociopath in your organization. If you can't act formally, from personal experience (including reporting to at least one corporate sociopath), these 7 steps will help you be more successful in working with sociopaths in business and horrible bosses despite their negative behaviors.
If you can determine this accurately, it becomes your backdrop for anticipating a sociopath's potential actions. For example, after a co-worker suggested the ego of a senior leader in our business was his Achilles' heel, the proper strategy was clear: "blow smoke" to steer his attention whenever he was around. Hint: The motivation is typically going to link to personal attention or affirmation.
Operate with the understanding you can't believe anything a corporate sociopath says. Because of this, continually gather information you'll need to assess what's going on. Be seen as a confidant within the organization. Ask open-ended questions, listen, and observe what's actually happening.
If you’re working with a corporate sociopath, to the extent you can, use one-on-one conversations to ask questions and engage in harmless small talk which may help you better understand the individual. Avoid using one-on-one conversations as decision making opportunities because you want witnesses for the decisions a corporate sociopath makes. Push decision making to meetings where others are present who can corroborate decisions and direction setting when they're inevitably changed later.
When corporate sociopaths try in some unanticipated way to disrupt efforts where you're making progress, you want to be able to adapt and keep going as readily as possible. It's critical to do the strategic thinking that allows you to stay several steps ahead at all times.
If your boss is the offender, you can't play the "avoid" and "small talk" cards all the time. Decipher what's important and what isn't to the organization - not to the corporate sociopath. What that insight, placate sociopaths on all minor things you can to ideally buy a little room for quiet defiance on things that really do count. If you're in a position to do it, pair a lower impact team member with the sociopath to provide attention and crank through the busywork sociopaths create. In exchange, offer strong support and counsel to the person assigned to this role.
Be on the lookout for others who hint at frustration or exasperation with a corporate sociopath. Probe, without saying or revealing anything self-incriminating, and see where their loyalties are and what perspectives they'll express. It may be someone you can work with more closely to get things accomplished. Again, be careful it's someone you can ABSOLUTELY trust.
Keep yourself above reproach. This makes it more difficult for corporate sociopaths (especially horrible bosses) to try to throw you under the bus. Protect yourself by:
If you have had to or are currently dealing with horrible bosses or other sociopaths in your organization, what have you experienced in dealing with a sociopath and still trying to do good work? - Mike Brown