The Broken Thread

“Whenever you are too selfishly looking out for your own interest, you have only one person working for you – yourself. When you help a dozen other people with their problems, you have a dozen people working with you.” -- William B. Given, Jr.

Organizations struggle today to build a reputation as a tight-knit company. The fight to secure top resource talent is only going to get worse as a mobile society, coupled with a perceived decline in company loyalty, drives regular job migrations. The better companies sing the praises of the team player, indeed, the nature of business requires team play … the prima donna is, or should be, discouraged. Now, be honest … some particular person has popped into your mind since every one of us knows the type: so consumed with themselves that they spend the majority of their time navel gazing.

While this brand of self-absorption can be relatively harmless, it can also pose a potential danger to the company culture. If their excesses are allowed to continue unabated, unchallenged, teamwork can suffer. Little by little, barriers are erected between individuals, the root of bitterness creeps in undetected, and the team ultimately loses.

The pace of technological change in 2008 continues to quicken. Businesses are forced to face the shifting sands of market pressure, and, at the same time, mitigate risk. Firms need more interchangeable parts … people with the flexibility to move quickly, smoothly from one job to another, and from relationship to relationship. When the office bully is allowed to cast a pall over the work environment that delicate balance is irreparably harmed. Communication that is critical in the fast-paced market is diminished, and this does violence to the bottom line. If we are not watchful, we may be sowing the seeds of our own demise. Henry Ward Beecher succinctly stated, “He who is false to present duty breaks a thread in the loom, and will find the flaw when he may have forgotten its cause.” Poor communication caused by an unstable emotional environment is going to sink the organization at the key moment. It is always best to deal openly and swiftly with workers who bring turmoil to the culture. Remember … bad news does not get better with time. Vigilance is vital in maintaining a culture that breeds camaraderie, and establishing a mechanism that empowers people to police themselves. Remember the broken thread.

©Gerry Young 2008