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Thursday
08Jan2009

Do You Work With Mr. Forceful?

One of the most interesting aspects of blogging about careers and the workplace, is the 'people watching.' Everyone has their own unique style. One style, which I personally find quite irritating, I've coined as is 'Mr. Forceful.'

You know the type. In fact, there's a good chance he's sitting next to you.

He thinks imposing his will on you will help his 'career progress.' He thinks he's slick, but his actions are easily identifiable. Tactics used by this guy are more transparent than he'll ever know.

Talking Loud: Particularly at meetings and in groups. As if the louder the decibel the greater the influence.

Controlling All Information. You ask for a report and get the runaround. Even the simplest request gets stonewalled.

Inability to Assign Tasks. Mr. Forceful has a staff, but you wonder what they're doing. He also likes to surround himself with passive people.

Finger In All Pies. He tries to be involved in everything, yet is a master of none. Mr. F doesn't understand boundaries and ends up insulting colleagues. By making more enemies than friends, he's really hindering his career progress.

Anger/Hostility. A tactic frequently employed by Mr. F is using negativity to control the mood.

Long Hours: Quantity not quality. He thinks being the first one in and the last one out threatens the competition. But we think Mr. F just ends up just looking like a loser.

I often find Mr. Forceful to be a 'large' individual. Whether it's weight or height, this person thinks that size matters.

Work happenings such as mergers, promotions and seismic shifts of power do not happen overnight. You can plant the seed and water the plant and shine the sun all in one day, but the plant will still not show up in an hour. We wish Mr. Forceful would learn that lesson.

Do you work with Mr. Forceful? Tell us about him.

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Reader Comments (7)

SEE: Tony Soprano.
January 8, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterB.A.
I too have seen this creature walking upright in the dimly lit hallways. Ironic how they are often always in the corner office or trying sell something. Perhaps "Mr. Forceful" is on to something.
January 8, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJohn Anthony
It's not just the MR., Andrew. In fact, I think the MRS. might be a bigger offender of power abuse. I can show you the heel marks on my back if you'd like.
January 9, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMaria Contreras
These sorry excuses for human beings are just short of being psychopaths, and I suppose that we should be grateful that they (indecently, by the way) expose themselves for what they truly are. While I don't believe in carma, we should remember that these bully a-holes need to be beaten, and even if they win, they exist rather than live...proverbial EMPTY SUITS
January 9, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterNorway 4Ever
As trite as it may sound, more often than not, Mr. F SUCCEEDS! Those that are angry at his tactics, should try to focus on their own goals
and quit trying to change others.
January 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJoan
Joan is on to something, but it doesn't change the fact that nobody likes 'Mr. Forceful.' We have a woman at work who favors these tactics and we call her "THE SHADOW" because she is always alone.
January 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterDaniel Sachem
Bullying is the act of intentionally causing harm to others, through verbal harassment, physical assault, or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation.

What you have described here sir, is classic bullying. My sympathies to the FORCEFUL, as they are truly weak.
January 16, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJohn

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