Beating the Workplace Bully

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HOW TO SILENCE THE ANGRY, AGGRESSIVE JERK

Keep away from angry, short-tempered men, lest you learn to be like them and endanger your soul.—PROVERBS 22:24–25

“VERN, YOU DON’T MIND my busting your balls, do you?” asked Max, a broad-shouldered Marine drill sergeant lookalike with a crew cut, who ran the facilities department for a large oil company. Max’s voice sounded like ripping duct tape; he walked with military precision, and shook hands with an anaconda-strong grip.

Most of Max’s peers avoided him, and that was the way he liked it, bragging to his staff that others “give him a wide berth.” Max hired bullies, and they enjoyed laughing while watching how Max handled the “wusses” in the accounting, client services, and administrative departments. ...