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 --