Who's Paranoid?

paranoia |ˌparəˈnoiə|nouna mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system.

I used to live on Long Island.  The biggest hospital on the Island was Pilgrim State Psychiatric Hospital.  It was a large complex composed of many out buildings that housed what we politically un-correctly referred to as "the mentals".    When we were bad, our parents threatened us with being left there for a night. I had a picture in my mind of what the inside of a ward might look like, with people cowering in corners or under tables, afraid of anyone who looked at them, shrieking and running away insanely  if anyone approached.  The halls were dark, the rooms small and dingy.  Thank God the mentals were locked in there and could do not harm to us.
What I didn't realize at the time, is that they are not all locked up and getting the care they need.  In fact, they live among us.  They don't always cower in corners or under tables; they hold jobs, walk the streets and hide their crazy. That doesn't mean that they aren't dangerous.  It seems to me that the higher up on the food chain some people go, the more paranoid they get.  Let's take the "exaggerated self-importance" piece of the definition.  After attaining a top position in a company, a paranoid will proceed to micromanage those below him creating the impression that by doing it all, they are even more important.  Usually, however, they don't know what they're doing to the point of incredible incompetence.  Does that stop them?  Absolutely not, in fact, it spurs them on and drives them forward.  It's as if a person building a house dictated directions to the electrician, plumber and sheet-rocker with absolutely no knowledge of any of these crafts.
Delusions of persecution are common and subtly exhibited.  A reserved "Parking for CEO" sign may suddenly be with a "Reserved Parking" sign, indicating fear of revenge for some deed being taken out on the CEO's car. A department, operating as a well oiled machine, with a top team, may be seen as a threat with possibilities of a conspiracy and dismantled person by person until nothing but chaos remains. A friendly conversation between two friends turns into an evil plot-hatching session where information is exchanged that will feed the enemy and ultimately bring down the ruling regime, which happens to be lead by the paranoid. 
The "unwarranted jealousy'" would be comical to behold if it weren't so pitiful.  Most experts agree that extreme jealousy usually stems from insecurity.  It is really fear of abandonment that leads a man to become so jealous of his partner that he ultimately destroys their relationship with his mistrust.  Often, the object of the jealousy is just a pour soul whose only fault is that they are comfortable in their skin, and actually poses no threat to the aforementioned relationship.  This is usually the case with the CEO who is more worried about being excluded, and sees the well functioning team as a threat to their authority, and seeks to destroy it.  Watching a CEO take apart such a team rather than let it be a reflection of his leadership, actually presents the real picture of that CEO's leadership, or lack thereof.
Arranging these traits into a well organized system is usually made easier for the paranoid because he is skilled at flattery and deceit. Pitting one employee against another or painting a manager with the "incompetence" brush is easy because he is able to use his position to hint at favors being curried in exchange for support.  These persons will flourish when there is weakness or stupidity above them in the food chain or they are physically attractive enough to "bat the eyelashes" to get what they want.
We must all be aware of these people and how dangerous they are, and do what we can to protect ourselves.  Make sure the information flows around them and not through them.  Believe nothing that they tell you, especially if the statements are accompanied by fluttering eyelashes.  Watch the antics, but don't get close enough to participate or be touched by them. Remember that knives ALWAYS come out of a back with blood on them.  Don't let it be yours.