Linus Torvalds might be behaving in a tyrannic way, but I think everyone would agree that he does it to enforce the philosophy and goals of the project and driv

Linus Torvalds might be behaving in a tyrannic way, but I think everyone would agree that he does it to enforce the philosophy and goals of the project and drive it long term, which is fine. I think the "toxic" tyrant has an agenda unrelated to the company performance, stemming from their lack of self confidence mixed with a lack of empathy. They overcompensate by seeking praise from those they perceive as weak, and sabotage those they see as treats. When I find someone a bit aggressive or overbearing professionally, I try to observe how they behave outside of their job. If they're moderate and respectful, they are usually just very focused people, and probably good allies with the proper boundaries and communication. If the behavior happens outside work as well, I'll just assume they're a lost cause and kill them with neutrality. Never let them bother me but never give them credit either, be extra zealous when they send me on a wild goose chase, until they get bored and latch onto someone else. Oh and raise my eyebrows before agreeing with them.