Management By Conflict

We refer to our general manager as Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde. You never know which personality will rear its ugly head on a given day around our cluster of radio stations.

This afternoon, the irrational, illogical, program director-wannabe side of him came charging into our music director's office. I happened to be standing there, along with our morning guy, when the GM went postal.

"What was that song I heard five minutes ago when I was driving back from lunch?" he demanded to know.

We explained that it was the #1 song on the album charts, that it was a core artist, and furthermore, our consultant -- paid handsomely by the ownership to make sure we played the right songs -- had given the tune his blessing.

"I don't care about any of that!" he yelled. "The song is a piece of crap. This is MY station and I want it off. Now!"

"Steve, we're not going to pull that song off the air," I protested. "It's a huge hit."

Steve, suddenly speechless, stalked off to his office downstairs. But the damage had been done. It was if a human tornado wiped out the music director's office. The music director wasn't looking to rebuild; he was looking to relocate now.

"I can't work for that son-of-a-bitch anymore," he bitterly said.

After a half-hour cooling off period, I approached Steve's office. Expecting hostility, I instead got a smile and a warm handshake -- followed by an apology, sort of.

"I just want to thank you guys for standing up to me," he said. "I like that in my employees. Good job."

I wasn't for random drug testing ... until I starting working for this guy.