Boss started in position last August, been in place for 5 months or so. Very quickly we had concerns about his competence as he didn't seem to understand much of the agenda he'd been employed to cover. He's technically a specialist in one particularly area, which is a very big and visible risk for the company right now but this is one part of what he is supposed to lead on (he is the Head of the department). Fine, we thought, we will give him lots of support in the other areas and help him get up to speed. He just doesn't take any of it in though and when he goes about the business, supposedly leading the whole agenda, he falls back on talking about this one area and it's starting to cause some real damage.
Competence aside, he has shown some worrying behaviours. He is defensive and aggressive if you suggest trying to help him with something as he sees it as a personal attack. Me and his other direct reports spend a great deal of time and energy trying to figure out a way to word things so he doesn't get angry with us. He plays favourites, if you're in the 'inner circle' he will confide in you and is like your best buddy. If not he talks to you like shit. He talks about all of us to each other, criticising directly. He's taken against someone in my team and keeps calling me to complain about stuff she's done. Ridiculous complaints.
There is a reorganisation due within the next 6 months and he keeps talking about looking for people he wants to keep/get rid of which has everyone on edge and everyone is scared to speak up as he could just get a million times worse if it wasn't dealt with properly. His boss is very senior and swamped with this reorganisation stuff so I don't even know if he'd be terribly interested
We've gone from a happy, passionate team to stressed, scared and constantly walking on eggshells so he doesn't yell/get angry etc. It's mad!
Any suggestions??