I was reminded by a blog called Mission Minded Management about mind games people play in interviews. She referred to a Monty Python skit that is fun to see:
Often when you have having a conversation with a boss or his boss you find yourself trying to read his mind. What you often want to know is the purpose of the conversation. I strongly recommend that managers be authentic and not play mind games. However many people hide their intentions. Maybe they are uncomfortable with their purpose and thus resort to games.
I remember a bizarre conversation I had early in my career with the CEO came to my office to chat. He had never done it before. At a time when the organization was in chaos and he had just fired my boss. He asked me to be a vice president. I could not believe my ears and laughed. I said that I was not ready and he really did not mean it. I guess the bottom line was I refused the promotion. The whole thing was a strange conversation but the bottom line was I did not trust him. I always wonder what he thought about our conversation.
That was a good monday morning laugh.