Echelon Front’s Post

I’ve seen this situation far too often, and I appreciate how clearly you've articulated it. The challenge becomes even more difficult when you report directly to someone like this in your leadership chain or someone heavily influenced by them. Developing effective coping strategies to deal with such leaders depends largely on the overall organizational environment and the capacity of both junior and senior leaders to address the problem. For example, the 'Tank' type of leader is confrontational, aggressive, and often angry—the epitome of pushy behavior. If you try to address their behavior, you quickly become their target. I learned this the hard way and have since adjusted my approach. Ultimately, it often takes intervention from a senior leader or a significant incident for them to realize that their approach is damaging. Unfortunately, it’s painful to be the target and frustrating to be unable to coach this type of person.

Echelon Front our truest character shows up in the moments of our greatest stress.

It’s called balance and self awareness. And having relationships with your direct reports or peers. There are times when interactions get heated. And as the leader you have to turn it on. I have been in many leadership meetings were tempers flair. No one is perfect. It should be minimal. But to think that every interaction is going to be a lesson in kumbaya is ridiculous.

Honest question: what happens when the leader who doesn’t bark and typically doesn’t lose their temper, ends up losing it one day unusually? I’d love to hear from others on here, but, to answer my own question, this is when that leader, after cooling down and collecting themselves, again stand in front of their people and hold themselves accountable for an outburst. Accountability is a key virtue of a sound leader. In a tough situation like this, it would matter most.

I see and hear about this frequently and one of the things that stands out is that these so-called leaders use losing their temper as a control mechanism. Their ego doesn’t allow them to see the truth of their actions.

But if I can’t lose my temper and belittle my employees in front of their peers, then how is everyone supposed to know that I’m in charge and that I demand to be respected?

Most of the time I agree, sometimes there needs to be a little passion.

💯

still learning this … and look up to those that are teaching me to be better. 

This was an eye opener for me! I used to get so worked up in some instances. After hearing Jocko succinctly explain this, I have been much more cognizant of my emotional reactions.