I have finished reading this fascinating and unsettling book, Fear by Bob Woodward: Trump in the White House.
As someone who has worked for forty bosses over forty years (neat but true), I am intrigued by leaders and leadership. I have worked with a couple of quite brilliant people, a few very good ones, a lot of average plodders and more than enough idiots.
This paragraph (page 175) written by Woodward gives insight into aspects of Trump's personality and modus operandi:
Trump gave some private advice to a friend who had acknowledged some bad behaviour toward women. Real power is fear. It's all about strength. Never show weakness. You've always got to be strong. There is no choice. You've got to deny, deny, deny and push back on these women. If you admit to anything and any culpability, then you're dead. That was a big mistake you made. You didn't come out all guns blazing and just challenge them. You showed weakness. You've got to be strong. You've got to be aggressive. You've got to push back hard. You've got to deny anything that's said about you. Never admit.
At least two of my bosses had a similar stance, not about how to treat woman, but about self-promoting egos, never admitting to mistakes and never apologising. The word 'fear' featured in the way they managed their teams.
I read on.
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