Mediola: Working For A Verbally Abusive Boss

A couple of weeks ago, I heard about an astonishing incident that occurred in the Good Morning America control room. The story came to me from a staffer who was not a direct eyewitness, and I wanted to confirm it before discussing the matter here. I couldn't.

My source told me that the executive producer, Shelly Ross, "fosters such a climate of fear, I doubt anyone will talk period".

She was right. I called the ABC News press office for a comment, but they wouldn't return my calls.

Then, Page Six, the gossip page of the New York Post, ran the following item:

GMA Rising

Maybe Turnover is good. "Good Morning America" is closing the ratings gap with "Today" even though it recently lost four key staffers who were unhappy under executive producer Shelly Ross. "People just can't take it anymore," said one source. Two writers left, Joe Reid and Federico Quadrani, as well as veteran news editor Al Wasser and ace segment producer Tom Martin. "We have an enormous number of talented people at 'Good Morning America,' " an ABC spokesman said, "and we couldn't be more proud of the show."

Very good spinning by ABC. They're closing the ratings gap, and before anybody discovers that the staff is "unhappy" and very unpleasant things are happening as a result of the executive producer's behavior, we'll do damage control by pointing out that we're very proud of the show and the staff is very talented. FYI, Page Six consists largely of items planted by sources to promote themselves or achieve some PR goal.

The story my source told me was that Joe Reid, who wasn't just a writer, but was the head writer, a central position at GMA, quit on the spot without giving notice.

But the next resignation is the most amazing story I've heard in my career.

I'm not clear on the time frame, but at approximately the same time, the person described to me as the GMA "SENIOR News Writer (who sits in the control room right next to Shelly), after three years, ripped his ID off from around his neck, threw it at Shelly, and QUIT ON THE SPOT ... DURING THE SHOW!"

He threw his ID badge at the executive producer. That's rage. We've all had bad bosses, and some of us have had verbally abusive bosses. But to throw something at your boss? What sort of behavior elicits this kind of loss of control in a person who I would guess is not prone to any sort of violence? After all, he worked in a live control room supervising the scripting of a constantly-changing two-hour daily news program--one that has been engaged in a high-profile ratings battle. So he was cool under pressure.

Another source on my jungle drum network told me, "Shelly Ross is a NOTORIOUS bitch ... EXTREMELY verbally abusive, vindictive, and prone to temper tantrums."

Well, you don't work for GMA, but perhaps you have a bad boss -- one who is verbally abusive. What can you do?

There are two pieces of advice I want to give you. Both are very simple.

1. This is the difficult choice. Quit. Do not work in an abusive environment. The emotional scarring that will take place will make you ill--colds and flu in the short term, heart disease and cancer in the long term. Depending on your life situation, strategize your departure. If you are single and do not have any dependents, get out now. If you are married and your spouse is working, get out now. Don't wait to find another job. Get out. Or, if you're under contract, and can manipulate being fired for a reason that will not put a black mark on your record, do that in such a way that they have to pay you out for the remainder of your contract. Just get out. Trust me, it's worth the risk. I've done it more than once. Financial difficulties are a lot more fun than daily name-calling and being screamed at.

If you have family responsibilities, give yourself 3 months to find another job, and look aggressively. Get out after those 90 days.

2. Here's how you manipulate an abusive boss while you're working for one: understand that your boss has low ego-esteem. Your boss is like a schoolyard bully, who is the victim of physical abuse at home. Your boss lacks self respect.

Take time every day -- every day -- to drop in on your boss and tell him/her how much you respect him/her, and why. Bullshit your brains out. Make up whatever you want. You can't praise him/her highly enough. No amount of bowing and scraping will seem excessive to an abuser. Your mantra is "respect the bully...respect the bully...respect the bully".

Your shop will still be a nightmarish place to work, but I'll wager a dollar you'll be off the radar screen.

I'm not clear on the time frame, but at approximately the same time, the person described to me as the GMA "SENIOR News Writer (who sits in the control room right next to Shelly), after three years, ripped his ID off from around his neck, threw it at Shelly, and QUIT ON THE SPOT ... DURING THE SHOW!"

Another source on my jungle drum network told me, "Shelly Ross is a NOTORIOUS bitch ... EXTREMELY verbally abusive, vindictive, and prone to temper tantrums."

Well, you don't work for GMA, but perhaps you have a bad boss -- one who is verbally abusive. What can you do?

There are two pieces of advice I want to give you. Both are very simple.

If you have family responsibilities, give yourself 3 months to find another job, and look aggressively. Get out after those 90 days.

Take time every day -- every day -- to drop in on your boss and tell him/her how much you respect him/her, and why. Bullshit your brains out. Make up whatever you want. You can't praise him/her highly enough. No amount of bowing and scraping will seem excessive to an abuser. Your mantra is "respect the bully...respect the bully...respect the bully".

Your shop will still be a nightmarish place to work, but I'll wager a dollar you'll be off the radar screen.

Dan
Go to DanCooper.tv