Many, many years ago I worked in special projects for the executive office of the company that employed me. This was a real privilege, and I was often involved with or exposed to a range of highly confidential initiatives, from strategic partnerships to internal restructuring plans.

One project I worked on required the help of someone in another department. She was excited to be involved, and top management had sanctioned some of her time for it. She worked hard and was a great asset, but throughout her time, her immediate supervisor was constantly giving her grief. He would sabotage her availability, pile on work outside her normal job so that she was overworked and exhausted, and denigrate her participation in the project we were working on together.

The project completed successfully, and a couple of weeks later I was standing outside of the building as her supervisor was coming in to work for the day. He headed through the door, and a few steps behind, I headed in too. He headed up the stairs, and a few steps behind, I headed up too. He headed down the hall, and a few steps behind, I did too. He walked into his office, and a few steps behind…I did too.

I closed the door behind me, and said, “Hey — got a minute?” He said he supposed he had a minute, but only that. I said “Thanks! You know, you did a real favor to me when you let <XXX> work on that project, and so to thank you, I thought I would do a favor for you in return.” “Oh really?,” he says. “What’s that?” “Well, I thought you’d like to know that you’ve been under consideration for a new VP position…” His eyes lit up. I went on: “and each time your name has come up for it, it’s been discarded, and I thought you’d like to know why.” Startled and then looking a little sick, he sinks into his chair. “Err…yes. I’d like to know.” So I proceeded to tell him: “You’re apparently perceived as petty, passive aggressive, controlling and conceited. You’re clearly talented, but for these reasons, you’ve been passed over…good luck!”

Every word of it was true, from start to finish, and he thanked me profusely for it. One of the most satisfying moments of my career (and there have been a lot!).