I work at a biotechnology company where we are taught to be science based in our decisions. The Vice President of our site, a former Commodore in the US Navy would probably be described as predictably irrational. Every month, all the managers at our site are required to present performance metrics at our Site Management Review. All of us dread these meetings because we never know when he is going to burst. No one can predict what will set him off each month. There is no obvious pattern to his behavior. All we know is that when he has decided to pick on someone, everyone else should run and hide. Once he has selected his target, the room fills with awkward silence and sympathy for his victim of the day.
In a company that places such importance on science based decisions, our VP tends to be bothered by the most trivial things and ignores the obvious issues. When the topic of employee morale was brought up recently at a staff meeting and someone alluded to his volatile temper as the cause, he simply said, "Some call it fear, I call it accountability." I'm sure he is being rational in his own mind, but we're not on a submarine. (By the way he was a Commodore of a fleet of submarines).
As a follower, it is difficult to deal with a personality like his. No matter how much we prepare to discuss issues at Management Reviews or other meetings, our VP will manage to find an opportunity to knock you off your A-game. Through observing his actions, I've identified qualities that I would want to avoid if I was ever in his place.
When dealing with people who are predictably irrational, all you can do is prepare and ready to deal with whatever will be dealt with you. As a person who has been at the other end of our VP's irrational behavior, I know that being prepared with facts helps to avoid any more pain than
As leaders, we have to be aware of irrational behavior and understand that it makes it difficult for employees to understand why you want to do the things you do.
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