King of their Anthill Personalities

[Poppy98]

Does anyone have tips for dealing with this type of situation? It's usually a receptionist or someone in another entry-level job who gets a tiny bit of power (ex to transfer calls) and is very focused on using the power(ex cutting off all calls to the accounting department because they don't like them and to HR so they can't get in trouble unless you bother writing a letter).

They also become enraged at anyone who knows things (ex. "Yes, I realize they weren't there at noon, they told me they would be out at noon and be back by 1. It's now 2 when the appointment is and I can see her as we speak.")
Them: ROAR!!! YOU DARE QUESTION ME?!?!?
Me: ???

What do you do? Stroke their ego? Roll your eyes and thank those-who-promote that they don't have a more powerful job?

I'm not usually vindictive enough to report someone. Trying to get a straight answer from this group is difficult. It's like talking to a broken AI and they constantly cut you off.

My guess is that it's not worth trying because they're likely not trying to get along or do their job and you should just abandon interactions with that company until that person is fired. But sometimes that's not super-feasible. Do you ever manage these personalities? How?

 

[the_tortoise]

I'm not usually vindictive enough to report someone

If they make it impossible for you to get important personal or work things done and/or or get you in trouble with their incompetence combined with weird power-tripping ego-maniac stuff, it's not vindictiveness to report their behaviour.

(Not unless your only goal is to spite them
or get revenge and you otherwise couldn't care less about how they treat you or others, nor about the problems they cause for you or others)

If they are abusing power in ways that hurt you (or others) it's just protection of self or others and an attempt to resolve a problem to report them, if speaking directly with them
does not work or is just not possible -- it's not vindictiveness.

Definition of VINDICTIVE

 

[Shamar]

If they make it impossible for you to get important personal or work things done and/or or get you in trouble with their incompetence combined with weird power-tripping ego-maniac stuff, it's not vindictiveness to report their behaviour.

(Not unless your only goal is to spite them
or get revenge and you otherwise couldn't care less about how they treat you or others, nor about the problems they cause for you or others)

If they are abusing power in ways that hurt you (or others) it's just protection of self or others and an attempt to resolve a problem to report them, if speaking directly with them
does not work or is just not possible -- it's not vindictiveness.

Definition of VINDICTIVE

I have dealt with these before, it is frustrating. When it became obvious she would not let me see the person I had an appointment with (she had exceeded my meltdown limit) I told her "I've produced better than you just by eating more fiber," turned around and left. I wrote a message explaining why I didn't make my appointment, and the next time I was there, she was gone.

 

[the_tortoise]

I wrote a message explaining why I didn't make my appointment, and the next time I was there, she was gone.

Good for you!

 

[Poppy98]

I have dealt with these before, it is frustrating. When it became obvious she would not let me see the person I had an appointment with (she had exceeded my meltdown limit) I told her "I've produced better than you just by eating more fiber," turned around and left. I wrote a message explaining why I didn't make my appointment, and the next time I was there, she was gone.

Oh, wow!

 

[Poppy98]

I have noticed that weak directors like to keep vicious people around to intimidate people into doing what is expedient or require that the more rational person concede because they are more likely to do so, so I think sometimes it's harder to get rid of these people in those situations.

 

[the_tortoise]

I have noticed that weak directors like to keep vicious people around to intimidate people into doing what is expedient or require that the more rational person concede because they are more likely to do so, so I think sometimes it's harder to get rid of these people in those situations.

But if the person abusing power doesn't actually have much power to begin with -- ie they are a receptionist hired by the people with actual power -- then their behaviour doesn't necessarily say anything about the people who hired them.

Often whoever has the power to hire and fire a petty, power-tripping receptionist or clerk has no idea about the receptionist/clerk's behaviour and would never approve of it.