Façade Fred
People aren't as they seem - they wear a façade. They're afraid to reveal the person behind the mask. The façade is mostly harmless but if you allow him to he'll walk all over you and if he has real power he could make your life miserable.
John wore a façade – had the latest sports car, wore designer clothing and would be fashionably late for our meetings. Once during a presentation John sat front and center and took up not one but three seats. Two for him, he sat in one and leaned in such a way as to make it difficult for someone else to sit beside him. His brief case occupied the third seat.
Once, while I was presenting research data, John repeatedly interrupted me at inopportune times to interject similar but unrelated research he was doing. This was getting annoying but rather than getting upset I set him up by asking some very detailed questions which he was unable to answer and then countered that the purpose of my research was different from his and as such unrelated. John straightened up and didn't interrupt again.
The façade shows up late for meetings, interrupts you while you're speaking, challenges you in your presentation, sits so everyone else needs to focus on him, keeps you waiting while he talks on the phone, is a name-dropper, wears a Rolex and the latest in designer fashion, grabs credit for others ideas and kisses up to anyone who can help him get what he wants.
On the surface he seems to have it all together but he lacks one thing, respect. He doesn't respect you and you likely don't respect him. This is an insecure person crying out for approval.
Here's what to do:
· Compliment him on his style and clothing.
· Allow him his little insignificant victories.
· Focus on the issues you need to confront.
· If you're kept waiting while he's on the phone - stand up and say you'll come back when he has time to talk to you.
· Don't let him interrupt you.
· Demand respect by standing up to him.
· Wear your own façade if you have to.
· Don't allow him to grab credit for your work.
