Insecure middle age bosses

Thought this would be an interesting topic because I did a quick search on wallstreetoasis and couldn’t find anything similar (please enlighten me if there are already topics on this).

I’ve had really great bosses before (yes, even middle aged ones) and the title is just a generalistion. But tell me if this isn’t insecure?

• a boss who specifically tells you during reviews that he finds it unacceptable that you have coffee with people from different departments, particularly other managers
• a boss who screws you over with untruths during review periods and when you speak to HR about it, he says you’re going behind his back (even though this is the hr that was assigned to you)
• a boss who sees you speaking to another boss in a different department in the corridor and he shows a black face
• a boss with a team full of nerdy geniuses who can do the work but who can’t write proper emails (imagine a VP being told that he shouldn’t write nasty emails to external stakeholders)
• a boss who never even let his VPs speak to clients without him being present

Of the two bosses who acted like the above, they tend to be where they are due to file and rank ie being in the company for 20+ years, probably at MD level but not a very strong MD, tends to go around looking angsty at work, doesn’t really have a big team, never worked anywhere else aside from the same company in probably similar departments, etc.

Another big indicator? They constantly boast about their technical knowledge and put down their own bosses for their boss’ lousy technical skill.

Any experience out there?