🦖 Ten types of Imprendisaurus not yet in danger of extinction (unfortunately)
There are days when I walk into certain companies and feel like a National Geographic observer at the Science Museum or a tourist in Jurassic Park.
In short, instead of enlightened managers and entrepreneurs, I find myself faced with prehistoric creatures who govern their habitat with archaic rules and survival strategies dating back to the Mesozoic era of business.
No matter how modern the company, the industry, or the size of the team (and, believe me, it doesn’t even matter how old the entrepreneur is), every now and then an Entrepreneursaurus always pops up.
Maybe he believes that leadership is synonymous with absolute control, or he proclaims himself a misunderstood genius and is surprised that no one can keep up with his “revolutionary” ideas.
Or, more simply, he devalues and demoralizes anyone who dares to express a thought that does not coincide with his (the problem is that often he does not have a thought, and, even if we wanted to, it is really difficult to get along with him).
Unfortunately, these figures are not yet on the verge of extinction – indeed, some companies seem to have set up an intensive breeding program with second and third generation entrepreneursaurs.
And you don’t have to work in a large, historic company to encounter them: Entrepreneursaurs are everywhere, from small family businesses to startups that are supposed to embody innovation.
Here is my bestiary of Entrepreneursauruses, those figures that still infest the world of work today, making the lives of collaborators and teams more difficult.
Ready for safari? 🎯
1️⃣ The Infallible Saurus (The ImprendiSauro who is always right)
Convinced of being infallible, this specimen he never makes mistakes (and when it gets it wrong, it's your fault.)
Zero self-criticism, maximum ego. His signature phrases?
“I don’t need feedback, I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“If it doesn’t work, it’s because you didn’t listen to me well enough.”
Natural habitat: meetings where he praises himself while the team exchanges desperate glances.
2️⃣ The Glacialis Empathicus (The Entrepreneur Without Empathy)
If a co-worker has a problem, this specimen responds with glassy look and absolute indifference.
The concept of "people" is vague for him: he only sees production gears to be squeezed to the bone.
“I don’t care how you feel, the important thing is that you deliver the project.”
“Are you sick? Okay, but at least answer your emails.”
Natural habitat: open space where people quit their jobs to survive.
3️⃣ The Egomaniacus Predatorius (The Entrepreneur who takes credit for others)
He works very little but has a special gift: steal other people's ideas and pass them off as his own.
His victims tell of meetings in which he was able to appropriate projects, intuitions and even jokes.
“That was exactly my idea! (Even though you said it 5 minutes ago…)”
“I talked to the CEO about it, he said my strategy is brilliant!”
Natural habitat: corporate emails in which he celebrates himself with a “as I was saying the other day…”.
4️⃣ Bipolaris Managerialis (The Incoherent Entrepreneur)
One day he says white, the next day he says black, and the day after that he denies having ever spoken.
He asks you for a detailed report, then accuses you of wasting time on the details.
The team is in constant panic because Nobody understands what he really wants.
“What do you mean, you did what I told you? I didn’t mean it that way!”
“No, I never said you had to deliver today. Oh yeah? Well, it’s your fault anyway.”
Natural habitat: corporate chats full of conflicting messages.
5️⃣ The Tyrannus Autoritariensis (The Imprendisaurus who imposes terror)
The boss is the boss and you are nobody. With obsessive hierarchy, imposed respect and forbidden dissent,
there is no discussion, there is no reasoning, there is simply obedience.
The company may even collapse, but woe betide anyone who questions it.
“Decisions are not discussed, they are executed.”
“I pay you to work, not to think.”
Natural habitat: closed rooms where strategies are planned with zero team involvement.
6️⃣ The Unbearable Micromanagerus (The Entrepreneur Who Controls Everything)
He doesn't delegate, he doesn't trust anyone, and he wants to see every email, every file, every comma.
He asks for updates every 10 minutes and then complains if he doesn't get an immediate response.
“Have you sent me the report yet? Oh no? It’s been a good 15 minutes since I asked you!”
“Do as I say. No, wait, it’s better if I do it.”
Natural habitat: endless meetings over irrelevant details.
7️⃣ The Impossibilis Expectator (The ImprendiSauro of absurd expectations)
He demands miracles, impossible deadlines and record results with zero resources.
He tells you the budget is tight, the team is undersized, but he wants the 200% in half the time.
“If you tell me it’s impossible, it means you don’t want to do it enough.”
“A weekend of extraordinary things and we’re bringing it home, right?”
Natural habitat: every corner of the office, especially on Friday evenings at 7pm.
8️⃣ The Ridiculus Sarcasticus (The ImprendiSauro who humiliates and belittles)
Convinced of being a great motivator, he uses cutting quips and destructive sarcasm to manage the team.
He doesn't understand why everyone looks like they're going to die at the meeting.
“Ahahah come on, I was joking! But you never understand, do you?”
“Wow, you did it all by yourself? Applause! Now do it better.”
Natural habitat: company lunches where he embarrasses someone by “acting funny”.
9️⃣ The Blameosaurus Rex (The Imprendisauro who is never at fault)
When something goes wrong, it's always someone else's fault. If the company is in crisis, it's the team's fault; if a customer complains, it's the person who managed it.
“Me? No, I had nothing to do with it, it was marketing / sales / logistics / karma.”
“Oh, you did exactly what I told you? Then why didn’t it work?”
Natural habitat: meetings in which he points the finger and passes on all responsibility.
🔟 The Omniscient Arrogant (The Entrepreneur who knows everything)
Expert in everything, more than anyone else. If you talk about marketing, he knows more than marketing; if you talk about sales, he knows more than salesmen; if you talk about neuroscience, he read an article on Facebook and now he explains how the human brain works.
“Look, trust me. I know something about this.”
“Well, I wouldn't have done it that way. But do what you want, then we'll do it again the way I say.”
Natural habitat: any conversation where he interrupts to explain life.
BONUS CONTENTS: 🎭 The Megalomanager: When Delusions of Omnipotence Meet Corporate Management (And It Doesn't End Well)
If the Entrepreneur is a nuisance, the Megalomanager it's a natural disaster.
He's not just a toxic boss: he's the boss who thinks he's a mix between Napoleon, Steve Jobs, and Leonardo da Vinci. The problem? He doesn't have the genius of any of the three, but he makes up for it with an outsized ego and a tireless ability to sow chaos wherever he goes.
This is the most dangerous subspecies. The Megalomanager isn’t just a problem for the team: he’s a risk for the entire company.
He demands absolute control, imposes unsustainable rhythms, demolishes the self-esteem of his collaborators and, in the end, even wonders why no one follows him with enthusiasm.
Ready to profile this mythological creature?
Here are the 5 characteristics that make it an existential threat to productivity. 👇
1️⃣ Control is his oxygen
The Megalomanager does not delegate, does not trust anyone and must have the final say on everything.
📌 For him, every email, every file, every post-it left on the desk is a matter of state.
📌 Asks you for updates every 10 minutes, then complains that you're wasting your time replying.
📌 It doesn't matter if you're an expert in your job: he still knows better than you how you should do it.
🎯 Favorite technique: Extreme micromanagement.
📍 Natural habitat: Endless meetings over irrelevant details.
🗣️ Typical phrase: “Do as I say. No, wait, it’s better if I do it.”
2️⃣ The goals? Unrealistic and vague
The Megalomanager is not satisfied with normal results: He demands miracles.
📌 It gives you impossible tasks with ridiculous deadlines.
📌 He changes your goals every three days, without ever clearly saying what he wants.
📌 If something goes wrong, it's because you didn't try hard enough (not because he gave senseless directives).
🎯 Favorite technique: Confusing the team with contradictory requests.
📍 Natural habitat: Zoom calls starting with “We have to think outside the box” and they end with “Do as I say.”
🗣️ Typical phrase: “A little effort and it’s done, right?”
3️⃣ The motivation? Humiliate those who work for him
The Megalomanager believes that humiliating is a great tool for growth.
📌 He makes cutting jokes about mistakes and difficulties, convinced that he is brilliant.
📌 He publicly discredits those who disagree with him.
📌 He never praises anyone because, deep down, you get paid to do your job, right?
🎯 Favorite technique: Destructive sarcasm.
📍 Natural habitat: Company lunches where he targets someone to “be nice.”
🗣️ Typical phrase: “Ahahah come on, I was joking! But you never understand, do you?”
4️⃣ If there is a problem, it is always someone else's fault
If a project fails, if a customer complains, if an employee leaves… it's always someone else's fault.
📌 The Megalomanager never takes responsibility for anything.
📌 He has an endless list of scapegoats: the market, the team, the government, the weather.
📌 If you put him under pressure, he takes out the card “you misunderstood my words”.
🎯 Favorite technique: The professional buck-passing.
📍 Natural habitat: Emergency meetings where he points fingers and complains about the team.
🗣️ Typical phrase: “Me? No, I had nothing to do with it, it was marketing / commercials / karma.”
5️⃣ He is convinced that he is an absolute genius
The Megalomanager believes himself a misunderstood visionary.
📌 Nobody understands his brilliant insights (perhaps because they don't make sense).
📌 He thinks he can do everything better than anyone else.
📌 He reads an article on LinkedIn and the next day he acts like an expert in blockchain, marketing, and neuroscience.
🎯 Favorite technique: Absolute arrogance.
📍 Natural habitat: Any conversation where he can interrupt to explain his life to you.
🗣️ Typical phrase: “Well, I wouldn't have done it that way. But do what you want, then we'll do it again the way I say.”
💡 Now tell me the truth: have you ever dealt with a Megalomanager?
Share your experience in the comments (venting is therapeutic). 😏
English 
Italian