We mentioned in a previous article that toxic individuals are infectious. Such employees focus on means rather than ends, promote drama over performance, and create significant drag on an organization. Moreover, they recruit others and shift the cultural norm. When this happens, restructuring is essential — but it will be resisted. Predictable Resistance to Restructuring … Read More
Leadership Teams: When Less is More
While this is not a new concept, our clients are showing a renewed interest in becoming leaner in response to the pandemic. While some organizations may be reactive in reducing their staff, others are trying to apply the lessons learned from the “work from home” experiment of 2020. In the case of the latter, their … Read More
Leadership: The Ten Worst Behaviors
It is often said that an employee who leaves a company is leaving their leader, not the company. Because leaders and their employees are in a power relationship, any corrective feedback often remains unspoken until the exit interview, or perhaps is never spoken at all. And in truth, most leaders do not intend to be … Read More
How Do I Know My Organization is Toxic?
A few toxic employees can start a movement that, if left unchecked, can derail your organization. The toxic behavior of a few employees can poison the culture; their numbers can swell and shift the focus of conversation from performance to cohesion. Ultimately, it marginalizes the true performers, causing them to question themselves and their own judgment. How … Read More
Why Being a Trait-based Leader Doesn’t Work
Books on leadership proliferate. As does research and speculation on the characteristics or traits one requires to be a great leader The Range of Traits The problem is, which set of traits predicts leadership success? One book advises humility and compassion; another strength and decisiveness; another courage and directiveness; another empowerment. The list of traits … Read More
Revealing Deeper Truths
The Case for Discovering “Deeper Truths” It almost goes without saying that hiring the right person for the right job makes a huge difference to the success of an organization. Removing people from roles for which they are not suited has an equal if not greater value. But it is not always easy at first … Read More
The Catch 22 of a Mid-Level Sales Manager
One of the fascinating aspects of corporate psychology is knowing that an attribute that makes someone great at one job can impair them in another. For example, at Psynet Group we are proud to be associated with a healthcare company that is so efficient that they deliver great services at lower costs while still providing … Read More
The Who and How to Operate in a Post Pandemic World
On May 15, McKinsey & Company published an article, “Reimagining the post-pandemic organization.” Widely regarded as a global thought leader, and somewhat guiding light for consulting firms in general, many organizations eagerly waited for a strategic announcement from them regarding what to do next. About a month earlier, on April 17, Psynet Group discussed its … Read More
The Order of Change
Psynet Group is often brought into a company to help change it so that it can improve performance or address new opportunities and challenges. What becomes crucial in our work together is to understand if the need is to improve the mechanism to express the company’s current identity (first order change) or to align the … Read More