Working for 'the boss from hell'
It was my first job in nonprofit, and this director of development was truly scary. "Reality" was an entirely relative term, and subject to change depending on who this director talked to. Minutes of meetings bore no relation to what had actually occurred. Decisions were made and unmade with dizzying speed -- and the staff got none of the credit and all of the blame for whatever happened, good or bad. Tantrums and hissy fits of varying proportions were practically daily occurrences.
I should have realized I was in trouble when it took nearly three months -- and, if I recall correctly, five interviews -- for this person to hire me. I was there about a month and a half when I developed a cold that turned into a sore throat that turned into laryngitis that didn't go away entirely until senior management finally wised up and let the director go after the staff, finally fed up with what was going on, staged a mini revolt and refused to cover for this individual's rather bizarre behaviour any longer. The laryngitis was stress, pure and simple; I would go home from work every night with my stomach in a knot and utterly exhausted from trying to keep this person from exploding.
I've never been so grateful to see the tail end of anyone in my life!
-- Cheryl L. Denomy
General Manager
Water for People - Canada
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