November 2023 - on psychopathic leaders, surveillance culture, buzzwords, and constant change
Issue #58
Greetings!
Here are a few items that “crossed my desk” in the month of November.
Enjoy!
A recent study conducted by the MIT Center for Information Systems Research found that the typical company goes through an average of 7.2 reorganizations over a five-year period — roughly one reorg every eight-and-a-half months.
An excellent article by Laetitia Vitaud on the Sandwich Generation:
“Middle-aged adults who find themselves responsible for caring for both their ageing parents and their own children simultaneously. It is not tied to a specific generation but rather a phenomenon affecting individuals who have parents and children in need of support at the same time.”
The richest 1 percent (77 million people) were responsible for 16 percent of global consumption emissions in 2019 —more than all car and road transport emissions. The richest 10 percent accounted for half (50 percent) of emissions (Oxfam)
If you think ‘bossware’ surveillance culture in the workplace is new, think again. Its origins go back to 1900s scientific management theories (John Naughton)
Managers who received training in mental health understanding and support reported actively engaging with team members about their mental health and taking concrete steps to support their people. This comprehensive transformation contributed to a more supportive and stigma-free workplace where employees felt encouraged to seek help. (review of existing research)
A powerful thought (and questions) from my friend and colleague Rebecca Sutherns:
Many activities that we tend to think of as individual, such as being curious or exercising our imagination, or even writing a book, are more powerful when done collaboratively. What is something you’ve been doing alone, or framing as a competition or a solo sport, that you could experiment with as a group activity instead? What might that possibility unleash for everyone involved?
Although higher levels of psychopathic tendencies may provide a small advantage in attaining leadership positions, the researchers found no evidence suggesting that most, or even many, corporate leaders are psychopaths. (APA)
Survey of the most frequently-used business buzzwords. Guess which one is #1 (Preply)
A post-Thanksgiving reminder: Spending time with family far outranks other personal priorities for most Americans. 73% of U.S. adults say family time is one of the most important aspects of their life – and none of the other priorities comes close.