Divide & Rule

I have a boss that seems to lead by Divide & Rule." The boss rarely calls a group together to vote on a matter unless each individual has been spoken to separately in advance. We sometimes found out later that individuals may have received differing information. How is this helpful?

It's obviously helpful for the boss's agenda or the behavior likely would not be repeated. The goal of divide and rule is to program each individual separately and in advance so that when a vote is taken on a problem or issue, the boss reasonably can expect that a majority will vote the outcome he or she wants. It involves positing to each individual in a “this is just between us” style, what the boss believes will get that person on board with the desired solution. This may include omitting some of the details, embellishing others, or addressing the other individual’s fears, concerns, or weaknesses. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult style of “leadership” to deal with. When the committee eventually meets and the boss says, “To save time, I’ve met with each of you individually. If (so and so) will move to approve the solution I discussed with each of you, we can vote and get on with the next agenda item.” As long as the boss gets a majority vote, there is no general discussion where each individual can ask questions in the group setting. Eventually, this style can lead to an environment of distrust and even to questioning the level of honesty.