The Jekyll and Hyde Boss: Navigating Brilliant but Volatile Leaders

Aileen and Glenda challenge the traditional view of categorizing bosses as either good or bad, focusing instead on those who embody both traits. Leaders who can be inspiring and brilliant, but also mean and volatile. Join us as we explore the psychology behind these unpredictable corporate characters. We talk about what it’s like to work for leaders like Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs’, and we share our own experience working for a Jekyll and Hyde boss.

Episode Highlights:

1. Introduction to Jekyll and Hyde Bosses
2. Research Insights
3. Aileen and Glenda's personal experience with brilliant but volatile bosses
4. Case Studies: Elon Musk & Steve Jobs
5. Survival Strategies
6. Key Takeaways

Sources:

Washington Post article: “The worst kind of boss is not the one who’s always a jerk.” The study, led by Fadel Matta from Michigan State University, discusses how employees fare better with consistently bad bosses than with unpredictable ones.

Leaderonomics.com article: “How To Manage Having A Brilliant Jerk for a Boss.” This article explores the book The Brilliant Jerk Conundrum: Thriving with and Governing A Dominant Visionary by Marc Epstein and Rob Shelton, discussing how dominant visionary leaders can become brilliant jerks.

Elon Musk case study: “Amazing and Terrible, What It's Like to Work with Elon Musk," which includes accounts from two of his former executives, Esther Crawford (former Director of Product Management at Twitter) and Jim Cantrell (former SpaceX executive).

Steve Jobs case study: The episode references the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, highlighting how Jobs’ demanding personality and perfectionist tendencies impacted his team.

Credits:

Co-hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Produced by Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins

Script: Aileen Merciel

Edited and Mixed by Aileen Merciel

Original theme song: Chaliwa Music

The rest of our music is by BlueDot sessions

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