Hello Mike;
    one of the most ineffective leaders I have known would distribute far and wide ranging tasks to senior people then phone them up a couple of weeks later and shout at them for not having done something which had never been agreed and then proceed to rubbish the work they they had done (preferably in front of their colleagues) without pausing for breath. Listening was not on the agenda.

In my view this is the kind of behaviour that results from extreme command and control cultures.
I'm afraid I take a really dim view of this, I think such behaviour is highly destructive and quite unforgiveable.

Confronted with this type of treatment I would write a considered and calm e-mail copied to HR explaining what I thought the problem was and how we needed to change the relationship for the sake of the business.

I feel strongly that when someone is jepoardizing the business in this way then you have both the responsibility and the right to act.

If HR are any good then there should be someone there who can help to defuse the situation, failing that if nothing else works consider your alternatives. If such behaviour is at a very senior level you have to ask yourself how much future the organisation has anyway.