it amazes me how much power a big boss can wield.

Not really, I think ;) From what I sense, you too are able to see that this power is given mostly and that the taking is a result of people constantly placing it to such a personality.

Fortunately, I was not in such a work environment again, either before or after. I had only ever heard of such things, but never experienced them myself.

Self-doubt is well known to me and I have it frequently, but as you say, I don't want to let it define my existence.
I found fear to be more difficult to endure than the boss himself, who has been given too much power. I personally thought the anticipatory obedience was the worst experience. I was quite shocked by the colleague's pandering to the boss without even being curious about how he would react to my setting priorities. People like that need boundaries from others and when they don't get them, they keep stretching their attitudes.

The last truly impressive scene I received was at the students' graduation ceremony, where the boss dressed down the students' accomplishments in a self-righteous and disrespectful manner in front of the assembled audience. This impertinence deserved to have the audience leave the hall. Moreover, it is a remarkable indictment of the head of the school that he exhibited himself on stage, isn't it? LOL Anyway, I got up and left.

I'm not even of the opinion that he was a thoroughly bad person, but basically constantly looking for boundaries. I put a huge part of responsibility on those who let themselves be intimidated by him and not only did nothing, but also passed on his despotism.

Altogether, it seems, that there is an overall confirmation in wanting to be ruled in this kind of way. And from there it's easy to hate the boss, having him always ready as the culprit for ones own miserable emotions.

Thank you for coming here and reading my story.
How did you manage to get yourself relieved from that work place?