Theory: New outside Director Gets Educated/Trained

Theory: New outside Director Gets Educated/Trained

When a new Director comes into a sick organization from outside the organization the lower employees experience a surge of hope that maybe they will get treated better. Usually no such luck!

If those supervisors in power have not already given their new "boss" an earful on how things "work around here" he will soon get his education. He is given a set list of guidelines (sometimes a staff handbook, which is usually followed to the letter for workers, and neglected for the supervisors) plus a lecture on "how things really work around here" by the bullies and others in power there (politicians controlling the money, the organization, various staff members, etc.). If he gives in to their way of thinking, he is "their" leader; if not he is fought every step of the way and made very unhappy, does not get their support, and does not usually stay director very long. Usually he submits to the "old" way and the organization keeps on staying SICK, treating people badly and unfairly, and nothing is changed. (If the new Director is chosen from those already at the sick organization there is usually no change in policy or operation; the Director already knows how things work at the organization.)

In one case the bullies flew to see the new Director chosen by others to indoctrinate him on the rules of the game before he got to the organization site, who the "troublemakers" (people who could think and question) were, the politics of the organization, the power players, etc., so the new Director could get a "running" start on being the new "buddy" Director, so there would be a "smooth transition" (nothing is changed), and it would be politics as usual. And the politicians and leaders stay happy, but the workers stay screwed.

In order to be "buddies" with his new senior staff he must "bend" to their ways. They have been there longer and "know" how things work.

After the new Director "gives in " once to the ways of the old establishment his fate is sealed. He must follow the wishes of the established set of bullies if he wants continued cooperation and peace with his supervisors. Forget about the workers, their education and training is minimal and they can be easily replaced with others "off the street." So the organization stays sick, doing very little, not upsetting the political agenda, etc. This is another way an institution stays sick for a long time, through many directors.

The only way to really turn the organization around is to "clean house" of all those bullies in power (including the politicians) over their individual kingdoms and start all over with a new director that is strong and fair, and cannot be influenced/intimidated by those left at the institution. The new Director then sets up his own power structure with those he controls (similar to what happens in a new political takeover). Then he can change some of the rules of operation as he sees fit; he may make it worse or better, or stay the same.

Unless one hears about drastic changes at an institution shortly after a new director starts, one can assume it is business as usual (the same politics, the same treatment of staff, etc.).

There are a lot of sick organizations out there due to all the sick, bully bosses/supervisors out there.

Adrian R. Lawler, Ph.D.,   (C)  2012 --







　

Theory: Victory over a Sick Organization

Theory: Victory over a Sick Organization

The leaders of a sick organization usually win in almost any fight with an employee because:

---the power is theirs

---they change/make up the rules as they go along

---they control your job, paycheck, vacation time. sick leave, overtime, benefits, etc., and will threaten/promise to stop or reduce any, or all, to win

---they are not going to let you win (bad for their power/public image)

---they will protect their members, no matter how bad (you think) some of their bullies are

---they will stick together in their positions, no matter how wrong they are

---politics will rule, not logic, or fact, or truth, or science

---they will use whatever tricks or set-ups necessary to win

---they will make witnesses, records, and evidence disappear/appear to their advantage

(even to using your partner/friend to get the evidence out of your own house, or having testimony disappear from court records)

(if the evidence can be considered as organization property do NOT take it off organization property so you can get caught/prosecuted for theft of organization property -- hide the evidence ON organization property and make copies of it to secure somewhere other than your home)

However, there are sometimes ways an employee might claim a "victory." Such a "victory" over a sick organization can be in several forms:

---outlasting them to get a retirement, or reach another goal

---escape to a another/better organization

---exposure of them for what they are

---getting bully people removed, or exposed for what they are

---preventing bully people from advancing in position or power

---legal/court victory (rare)

---organizational kangaroo court victory (very rare)

---getting staff handbook followed and enforced (rare)

---getting them replaced through political power change

Unless one is very smart, or has some good backing (good attorney or politician or a lot of the public supporting them ), or is very determined, or has "dirt" on them about illegal activities there is generally no real victory over a sick organization. One can achieve one of the goals above, yet still "lose" due to bad health caused by all the stress, or lose your partner or family who do not understand your plight.

And even if there were a victory as listed above, one should never mention/gloat over such a victory because the people of a sick organization can try to come back to put the bite on you years later in unexpected ways. So always keep your evidence even after you leave, in a secure place other than your home, in case you need it to fend off the sick organization later (sometimes there is no statute of limitations for a crime, like embezzlement).   

The leaders of a sick organization have no feeling for others, never forget, and must win at all costs. They will neglect to enforce the staff handbook on their own people, but will gladly "throw the book" at an employee.  Do not assume that if an investigation/audit finds something illegal in their activities that something will be done about it.  They will try about any trick possible to cover up/deny that one of their own did anything wrong.  Also, they will slander you for years after you are gone, especially if they think you have escaped their wrath.

After their persecution they will not normally let one escape with any sort of victory over them; it is not good practice to let a worker win against any organization (sick or not). To let them think they have won, while you celebrate getting your goal, is the only and usually silent victory some might get. And usually the only reason one gets such a "victory" is that they were not totally aware of the goal the victim sought, or they backed down a little to avoid exposure for their illegal activities.

Adrian R. Lawler. Ph.D.,   (C) 2012 --