SIR BILL SUPERVISOR
The Professional Supervisor With
" Power-Hungry Syndrome"
There is a most unfortunate malady known as SUPERVISOR'S SYNDROME. It does not affect all supervisors, but it does affect many more than a few. It is an equal opportunity affliction--not unique to any particular profession.
Supervisor's Syndrome has certain symptoms:
1. The need to see oneself as superior, and others as inferior.
2. The need to project one's power / influence,especially for self-glorification.
3. The need to push underlings around; especially fond of focusing on one or two targets at a time. Supervisors are good at organizing "gangs," with themselves as leaders. The "underlings" may be less superior supervisors, or staff workers.Supervisors with the syndrome will use any method to promote their own sense of power. That means that the ends justify any means. These usually include, but are not limited to, gathering lackeys around them, (also known as stooges, stool pigeons, moles etc.) to do their bidding. In return, the Supervisors dole out little sinecures and privileges--or protection in return.
Another tactic is to lie. Supervisors with the Syndrome seem to forget that "nobody has a good enough memory to be a successful liar," and are only successful if the institution in which they are supervisors is some sort of utopia of corruption. Unfortunately, these fraud-ridden institutions abound. Supervisors with the Syndrome try to make alliances with other people of influence, (aka "friends.") They all do each other FAVORS!
Supervisors with the Syndrome are rarely buddies with fairness. They are usually not particularly clever--although they think they are, and have a certain degree of cunning.They are more likely than not to make huge tactical errors. They all too often pick the wrong associates in "crime." If they have enough "friends" in the right places, they might worm out of most (though ultimately not all) tight spots.
Supervisors with the Syndrome are often bullies, but generally are not as irrational and unpredictable in methodology as Queen Heartbeat. However, they can be just like her if caught in a corner--trapped-- so to speak. In actuality, however, it could be observed that any behavior that affects other people badly is irrational in its own way.
The problems that arise for Supervisors with the Syndrome is that they only retain their support if their methods are working and there is a large reservoir of intimidated people within their influential space. If substantial glitches occur they are abadoned. Their associates are all too often "fair -weather friends."
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Sir Bill's story*
