Where do I even begin? Well the short version- I quit after one week as an intern at this organization. Why?
Simply put, the way the boss speaks to his employees is completely unacceptable and unprofessional and I could not bear to witness it for even one more day. I could tell that immediately, partially from firsthand experience and partially from observing the way he interacted with other workers. He never even welcomed me or said hello, for starters. I was not expecting for my hand to be held, but a simple greeting would have been a good foot to start out on. If I hadn't been relying on someone else for a ride, I would have stormed out of the office at my first meeting, probably somewhere between him telling me to “stop talking and sit down”, or when he condescendingly instructed me on how to move an office chair out of the way. His methods of openly humiliating his employees and assuming power over them were completely unwarranted and inappropriate.
I understand that everyone works differently and not all personality types mesh perfectly. I have worked with and for previous employers who were difficult and created stressful atmospheres, but at the end of the day, their criticism was constructive and they were appreciative of their employees. The hostile and unwelcoming environment he created was in no way constructive. And, I would like to mention, the majority of people who work for him are volunteers and unpaid interns. I understand that this is supposed to be a learning experience, but at the end of the day he needed them as much as (if not more than) they need him. And I didn't see much learning going on either. Just an ounce of appreciation, supportive language, and thoughtful discussion would be a good start. It is okay to have a difference of opinion; it is not okay to be rude and degrading.
This job, and others like it, should be creative, collaborative spaces where people can share and exchange ideas, and offer suggestions and criticisms in a healthy constructive way. He needs to re-evaluate how he thinks he can speak to others.