Conflict with Narcissists in Corporate America.

I was working with reckless leaders who threw their weight around.

Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash

Three years into my career, I became the Sales Manager in Central Illinois, which was as much a training camp for future Region Managers as a real manager’s position.

I was supporting my boss in executing his Annual Area Sales Training Meeting, an event with all the sales reps and managers, including many manufacturers who supplied us with products.

The most tenured area VP.

The famous, confident, and outspoken Herb Vonderbash was my boss.

Herb was very successful at achieving his financial goals and had a legacy of developing future successful managers.

Kind, but with a wicked sense of humor.

Herb was closing the meeting with an inspirational speech. Then he paused and said: “I have an announcement to make. Mike who has been leading the Central Illinois region is being promoted to the Region Manager in Louisville. Congratulations, Mike and let’s give him a round of applause.”

There was applause and people came up to me to say congratulations. I had a confused look on my face.

The problem was that this was a surprise. Herb had not…