Advice? Dealing with @$%&$ executives

[twobone]

Hi,

I'm working in a project oversight office for a major bank.

One of the executives who manages one of the work-streams is a total A-hole!

His approach is to steam-roll and brow-beat everyone, his peers, his employees, his partners, etc.. His other trick is to keep information away from others to ensure he can not be challenged.

I'm so tempted to call him out as being "obtuse", but I also don't want to make a powerful enemy....given that I'm not an executive.

I've always regretted not doing something, the last time I experienced this before with a former "evil boss".

Do you go head to head with someone like this?

Normally I would try to use logic to try to garner agreement, but this whack-job will most certainly twist and maneuver out of it. I guess slashing his tires is always an option

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by twobone

Do you go head to head with someone like this?

This depends on far too many factors not enumerated here.

[Z-man]

A bit of wisdom from a fellow co-worker who had worked at the same company for 25+ years:

"I have worked for a lot of a-holes in this company -- the beauty is: I HAVE OUTLASTED ALL OF THEM!"

Best way to do that is to fly under the radar, IMHO. It is important to separte such an executive as you are dealing with from the rest of management. If he's just one bad apple, and the rest of the lot are okay, then there are several things to consider:
a. You are not the only one who knows how much of an idiot he is.
b. His day will come, and he will have to pay the piper.
c. He probably has more influential people would back him up than you do.
d. If you challenge someone higher-up than you, that is typically a loosing battle.
e. If you work for a good company, is it worth putting your career there in jeopardy by stirring things up now?
f. Are there opportunities for you to distance yourself from this exec?

Challenging management typically doesn't turn out well for most minions.

My $0.42,
-Z-man.

[MBAtarga]

Get incriminating pictures of him and use them for blackmail.

[PorscheGAL]

I think you need to ask yourself "If I call him out will something change" If no then you have 2 choices, keep quiet do your work or find another job.

[id10t]

Channel Simon and release your inner BOFH ...

The Home of the Mighty BOFH • The Register

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Z-man

b. His day will come, and he will have to pay the piper.

Yeah...for many executives "paying the piper" means you walk away with a $weet $everance package. Poor guy will get a 6 month to 1 year paid vacation...

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Yeah...for many executives "paying the piper" means you walk away with a $weet $everance package. Poor guy will get a 6 month to 1 year paid vacation...

True - there is another saying here, "You F-up, you move up!"

-Z-man.

[Zeke]

Find your favorite Dilbert cartoon germane to this guy and nail it to his door.

[DanielDudley]

When you figure out what they want, figure out what they need as well and give it to them.

Do not give them exactly what they literally asked for unless it is what they need. Sometimes you can fix a 500 dollar problem with a two dollar wrench. But when you do, always say ''I took your advice, and I think this is what you asked for. Will this do ?''.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by zeke

find your favorite dilbert cartoon germane to this guy and nail it to his door.

ha !

[id10t]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

When you figure out what they want, figure out what they need as well and give it to them.

Do not give them exactly what they literally asked for unless it is what they need. Sometimes you can fix a 500 dollar problem with a two dollar wrench. But when you do, always say ''I took your advice, and I think this is what you asked for. Will this do ?''.

Yes, by liberal application of said wrench to the cranium... gotta channel that BOFH

[John_AZ]

Ask if he can be your mentor.

John

[svandamme]

If they want me to work the way i do, and be self motivating the way i am, they better not bug me the way they do.. so i don't let them and ignore the living snot out of them.

The only real power they think they have is the craving for power and really the imagination that people think they are so awesome.
Frankly, few CwhateverO's deserve that kind of reverence.

If you act like they dont register enough on your scope and they can't touch you... they prolly won't.