Coping with Toxic Managers, Subordinates…and Other Difficult People

Chapter 7. Ruthless Managers

Cold, Calculating, Cutthroat

Ruthless managers take what they need when they need it, without concern for fairness, ethics, decency, or you. Modern-day disciples of Machiavelli, they believe that all is fair in love, war, and business. Hurting others in the pursuit of a personal or corporate objective is seen as acceptable, albeit regrettable, collateral damage.

Ruthless managers have narcissistic personality structures: arrogant, devaluing of others, limited empathy for others, a limited conscience, and willingness to exploit others. They lack the flamboyant self-glorification of grandiose managers, the pleasure at hurting others that bullies experience, the complete absence of a conscience found in antisocial ...