The Caine Mutiny is a 1954 Oscar nominated movie starring Humphrey Bogart as an erratic US Navy disciplinarian posted to the U.S. Navy destroyer minesweeper, the USS Caine.
The crew is undisciplined but perform their duties well.
Bogart plays the role magnificently, depicting Queeg as a ball-bearing rolling paranoid sociopath with little self knowledge. He makes authoritarian decisions that have negative impacts on the vessel, crew and missions.
My past few blogs have been about putting up with bad leadership and management – focusing on the team and just plain ‘getting over it and on with it.’
Bad boss personality a fact
But this week an article was published around a Norwegian business school research project identifying that people with narcissistic personality disorder often assume leadership positions through their strength of personality, self confidence and willingness to make tough decisions. In fact these types are destructive and “don’t think twice about using others to achieve their own goals.”
It’s fair to say that not all human beings are high minded. People can act badly and unconscionably and hurt others in the blink of an eye. It’s a fact. There are also great people who lead and inspire. Who are open to innovation and creativity and work well with others.
Should you suffer under the stewardship of a Captain Queeg and hope that things will get better?
No.
Speak up. Move on and find a place where you can flourish and create.
Like cornered animals they will fight and manipulate with amazing ferocity.
Life’s too short.
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