RICHARD P. HIMMER | How to handle the despot boss  Common $ense,
by Richard P. Himmer   Melburn McBroom was a domineering boss.
He had a temper that intimidated his coworkers and direct
reports. Within the context of a factory or an office, such
behavior would be business as usual or what is referred to as a
socially acceptable addiction — except McBroom’s office was
often found flying at 30,000 feet. McBroom was a pilot.  In
1978, as McBroom’s plane was on final approach to Portland,
Ore., he noticed a problem with the landing gear. He decided to
position his plane in a holding pattern to resolve the problem.
As he obsessed over the problem, he failed to notice the fuel
gauges.  His copilots did notice, but were so fearful of his
temper, they withheld any comments to avoid the inevitable
explosion from their boss despite the fact that lives were on
the line, including theirs. Eventually their silence was broken
with the sound of a different kind of explosion, the airplane
crashed and killed 10 people.  It is