He turned out to be abusive and incapable of collaboration. He would say things like, "From now on, nobody except me makes any creative decision. If you have a creative idea you need to clear it with me first." I know it's hard to believe, but that wasn't a joke.
I'm trying to remember some representative anecdotes for you... for example, our receptionist made the mistake of sending out an investor email without bcc'ing, so the email addresses were all visible. He made her handwrite a note that said, "I apologize for violating your privacy. [The CEO] has instructed me on how to properly send email. I will not do it again" - and write it out 90 times - and mail them to each investor. (You may ask why there were 90 investors... another story.) She told me tearfully that she got RSI from writing out the notes.
Anyway, imagine a whole bunch of examples like that and you'll get the picture.
It was fascinating to observe how the different team members reacted to this person. Most retreated into a shell and didn't speak up as he abused others. There were a few scapegoats who accepted prolonged terrible treatment. There were also a few who acted courageously. For example, when the CEO yelled at one designer for leaving work on a Sunday and told him he would have to apologize to everyone for "letting down the team", the designer said, "In that case, I won't be back" and left. But these latter were a small minority.
It will surely help others avoid it.
Maybe. Sometimes one has to experience things for oneself. The key thing I would say about all this is: if someone is abusive, it doesn't matter whether he's abusing you. What matters is what it tells you about his character. Don't make excuses for people like that. Just avoid them. (Counterargument - Steve Jobs?)
I'm trying to remember some representative anecdotes for you... for example, our receptionist made the mistake of sending out an investor email without bcc'ing, so the email addresses were all visible. He made her handwrite a note that said, "I apologize for violating your privacy. [The CEO] has instructed me on how to properly send email. I will not do it again" - and write it out 90 times - and mail them to each investor. (You may ask why there were 90 investors... another story.) She told me tearfully that she got RSI from writing out the notes.
Anyway, imagine a whole bunch of examples like that and you'll get the picture.
It was fascinating to observe how the different team members reacted to this person. Most retreated into a shell and didn't speak up as he abused others. There were a few scapegoats who accepted prolonged terrible treatment. There were also a few who acted courageously. For example, when the CEO yelled at one designer for leaving work on a Sunday and told him he would have to apologize to everyone for "letting down the team", the designer said, "In that case, I won't be back" and left. But these latter were a small minority.
It will surely help others avoid it.
Maybe. Sometimes one has to experience things for oneself. The key thing I would say about all this is: if someone is abusive, it doesn't matter whether he's abusing you. What matters is what it tells you about his character. Don't make excuses for people like that. Just avoid them. (Counterargument - Steve Jobs?)