This is purely anecdotal, but the eagerness people have in telling other people how they should work seems to be something of a "tell" regarding their personalities. It gives away that secretly (or not so secretly) they get off on making others do what they want and it's all the more disturbing as it's dressed up as being vital for success or some other questionable unsubstantiated justification when really it's just about pushing people around.

It's quite a surprise to hear Gladwell's hypocrisy as he usually comes across as far more considered but i maybe with time he's slipping into bad habits.