I think this may be appropriate here:
http://www.changeboard.com/hrcircle...chive/2007/06/29/the-alpha-male-syndrome.aspx
THE FOUR TYPES OF ALPHA
A-types can be put into four categories. People are rarely all one type, but they may display a dominance in one of the four areas.
Commanders: Intense, magnetic leaders who set the tone, mobilise the troops and energise action with authoritative strength and motivation, without necessarily digging into the details.
Visionaries: Expansive, intuitive and proactive, they see possibilities and opportunities that others sometimes dismiss as impractical or unlikely, and inspire others with their vision.
Strategists: Methodical, systematic, often brilliant thinkers who are oriented toward data and facts, they have excellent analytic judgment and a sharp eye for patterns and problems.
Executors: Tireless, goal-oriented doers who push plans forward with an eye for detail, relentless discipline and keen oversight, surmounting all obstacles and holding everyone accountable.
DEALING WITH ALPHA ANGER
Whether or not you're an alpha yourself, dealing with a volatile alpha can be one of the great workplace challenges. Here are some vital tips:
1. Don't get defensive: No explanations. No excuses. Take 100% responsibility for whatever happened. Try to find a remedy.
2. Avoid feeling victimised: Of course, your alpha boss is a bully. Don't get even, get curious. Delve into why you're the one getting yelled at. If you focus on learning instead of sulking or venting, you'll stay out of the alpha quagmire.
3. Look in the mirror: Just because you don't deserve the abuse doesn't mean you didn't put the bull's eye on your back. Is being a target for someone else's anger a pattern from your long-ago past? Does it serve a purpose? If the drama offers you some secondary gain, you're likely to keep it going.
4. Get curious: Adopt the attitude that you can always learn from the alpha, no matter how explosive they are. Calmly restate their message. Ask questions to let them know you want to understand.
5. Clarify your standards: We train people how to treat us. If you're being yelled at or humiliated consistently, you've somehow made that acceptable. Be clear with yourself that abusive behaviour is not OK and the abuser will start to change.
6. Stand your ground: Be clear on what behaviour is unacceptable. Then make your boundaries known. Let the alpha know that if they cross the line, you'll walk away.
WHAT SORT OF ALPHA ARE YOU?
Strengths
- No matter what, I don't give up until I reach my end goal
- I say exactly what I think
- When I play a game, I like to win
- I have no problem challenging people
- I expect the best from the people I supervise and I help them deliver
- I make the decision I believe is correct, even when other people don't
agree
- I have strong opinions on issues I know about
- I seldom have any doubts about my ability to deliver
- When leading others, I set high performance standards.
- Even when I am successful, I always think about things that could have
been done better
Risks
- I believe that my value is defined by the results I achieve
- I don't care if my style hurts people's feelings, if that's what's
required to produce results
- When people disagree with me, I treat it as a challenge or an affront
- I tend to believe that others need to change more than I do
- If I'm asked to listen to inferior ideas, I can quickly become visibly
annoyed
- Sometimes I lose control of my temper and visibly express my anger
- People say I become curt or brusque when I have to repeat myself
- I have strong opinions about most things, even if I don't know much
about them
- Many of my work relationships have a competitive undertone
- I've been told that I don't listen as well as I should