I am the (not) proud recipient of "We told you so!" comments from my coworkers, from data entry to supervisors.

When our new manager was assigned to us, I urged everyone to cut him some slack. I said that people often do not match their reputations, and he needed the chance to show us what he really is like. Work with him, I said, and we can continue to be an integrated team. Just give him time.

The last few days have made the manager's character crystal clear and the hypocritical words/actions are the worst. We've tolerated a lot of ambitious or indecisive management over the years, we've argued qualities pro and con.

However, we are as one person on this: hypocritical leaders are the worst. Write observation of unacceptable behavior while doing it oneself? Requiring certain practices of everyone while violating them yourself before the hour is over?

I have tried to warn him or counsel him, saying that we stand together or we hang separately, that hypocrisy is the one character flaw that will do him in, that we will be united against him.

He laughed.

I've seen this team of people turn against a manager before, and it wasn't pretty. I think he thinks he's immune because he holds the highest position. He has a lot to learn about the corporate world and what it means to be head of a team.