I don't know where to post this but I feel like I'd get the best response here.
I keep encountering this particular type of person at work, and they're the ones that always end up coming for me, trying to get me fired, trying to bully me however they can. I feel like they're always in some kind of administrative or management position, usually somewhere in the middle or like they're the second in command. (I'm making generalizations here)
I've had two BIG ones that plagued my existence and caused me to have some breakdowns in the past, but I've been noticing how weirdly similar their behavior was. I've also had a lot of teachers that behave this way, and one of the BIG ones is a former teacher.
Both of the big ones were managers that were extremely good at organization, but it got to the point that they created these filing and scheduling systems that were so meticulous that it was impossible to navigate them. People were constantly coming to them with questions about these systems they set up, and they would get VERY defensive about it and act like you're stupid because it all makes perfect sense to them, so what is your problem? They have zero patience for questions or mistakes, and will become extremely anxious and lash out at people because no people don't follow their instructions to the exact letter. They also get angry because you, an assistant of lesser experience, did not account for every possible outcome and prepare for them. For example:
Production Coordinator I worked for, would often inspect the notes I would take for myself because he said I couldn't be trusted to take notes right, would send me on an errand. I would come back and tell him I did the errand, bring whatever I needed to get, or come back with an answer that I had to ask someone. He would them bombard me with questions I could not have even begun to know to ask about. “Did the camera crew get (insert specific item here)” when I was talking to the make-up department. Or, I would give a department head paperwork to sign that I would then bring back to PC. He would then ask “did they have form XB?” Only I've never heard of form XB, have never encountered form XB on any other productions, and come to find out, it's a form that is only used on certain occasions because of some incident I had no idea even occurred happened. But then I get scolded for not asking and am dumb for not knowing to ask. But this guy was unique in that he seemed to get really frustrated with everyone because it seemed he knew a lot, and he figured everyone knew as much as he did, and had a hard time getting his words out. I reported him to a higher up, and for a little while he tried to be nicer, but he looked so upset and genuinely depressed because he was so frustrated that he couldn't tell me the awful things he wanted to tell me. Like not even being nice, just behaving neutral, bare minimum, workplace appropriate robot was so difficult he looked like he wanted to cry.
I complained about the other big one on this subreddit before, but she had the same problem where she got inappropriate with how she was behaving with me and with other people. (she basically tried to blame me for other peoples failures and tried to get me fired, and did the same for a lot of people) She was obsessively organized to the point that it made work more difficult, but if you said anything she would threaten you. She got in trouble for her candor and now knows that everyone hates her, now she mopes around the office but ESPECIALLY when you have a problem with her overly complicated systems or if she tries to get you in trouble, and you get out of trouble, she looks like she wants to cry.
Other similarities they always have is they rarely raise their voice but that makes the insults even worse because their tones are so low, but if you react to them you either come across as an angry child or they act like you're the aggressor. If they act happy it come across as very rehearsed and fake. They don't seem to have a life outside of work, and get hostile if you try to go home on time. Another big thing they all seem to do is they'll hang around one person and that person is the only person that likes them. They're usually young and attractive, and they'll go on about how great this manager is but everyone else will utterly despise them.
I keep running into this type of person, they're always in a middle management position, and I always start off liking them, they seem chill but a little boring…and then I start working.
TLDR; has anyone else dealt with managers that are so organized that the system becomes disorganized, they get angry because you, an entry-level employee, don't factor in every possible outcome, they seem to be a confusing mix of extremely anxious and extremely calm and controlled, it's like they are constantly looking for weaknesses and mistakes you make but they rarely show any of their own
How do you deal with these types? Please tell me someone knows what I'm talking about