A “TEEN tantrum” is a way to describe the typical methods some managers and project managers employ when trying to get their way. I came across this term recently, and after having it explained to me, I thought it fit quite well, so I’m sharing it here. Credit goes to the original creator, who prefers to remain anonymous.
The acronym breaks down as follows:
“T” is for Time:
This is about urgency. Common demands include:
“When can I have this?!”
“I want this immediately!”
“How long will it take to finish this?!”
These types of questions are often the starting point for expressing dissatisfaction.
“E” is for Exasperation:
Exasperation usually manifests as frustration with perceived delays. For example:
“Why is this taking so long?!”
“This should only take a few moments!”
“Who is responsible for this?!”
Often, the person exhibiting this behavior lacks expertise in the subject, so they’re unaware of the complexities involved in delivering the work.
“E” is for Escalation:
This stage involves threatening to escalate the issue:
“This needs Escalating!”
“I want this done now!”
“I’ll get your boss involved.”
“Give me the name of the person in charge.”
“N” is for Name Dropping:
The final stage includes leveraging authority or connections:
“I know ‘Boss X’ ”
” ‘Boss X’ will hear about this!”
This behaviour resembles what some describe as the “Karen” archetype in corporate culture, though it is, of course, gender neutral.
Disclaimer: As always these posts are not aimed at anyone client or employer and are just my personal observations over a lifetime of dealing with both management and frontline associates.