They go by different names in various organizations: Cultural Terrorists, High-performing Skunks, Brilliant Jerks, Shining Swine, and Talented Toads. These are team members who achieve great results but consistently display disruptive, inconsiderate, or toxic behavior.
Most of us (the team) deal with these types by: not vouching for them, ignoring them in conversations, and not taking what they say seriously. This allows them to either move on to a new department/company, or at the very least leave us alone. In this day and age (it seems like to me) managers have their hands tied behind their backs. It is exceptionally hard to let people go and/or enforce rules. Hence the reliance on the tribe. They will tell you who is going to work.
This made me think of "thought leader" Simon Sinek. He gives some solid guidance in, a talk promoting his book, LEADERS EAT LAST. The takeaway I got was; the only time a leader is standing in the front (spotlight) is when their team is taking fire. Otherwise they are giving the credit to their team/s. This aligns with what Dr. Greenleaf lived by/taught: servant leadership.
Good morning,
A very interesting problem.
Most of us (the team) deal with these types by: not vouching for them, ignoring them in conversations, and not taking what they say seriously. This allows them to either move on to a new department/company, or at the very least leave us alone. In this day and age (it seems like to me) managers have their hands tied behind their backs. It is exceptionally hard to let people go and/or enforce rules. Hence the reliance on the tribe. They will tell you who is going to work.
As always, thank you for your time.
Yes, nicely nuanced with this earlier thought ... https://admiredleadership.substack.com/p/the-rotten-apple
Good morning Mikey,
It certainly does.
This made me think of "thought leader" Simon Sinek. He gives some solid guidance in, a talk promoting his book, LEADERS EAT LAST. The takeaway I got was; the only time a leader is standing in the front (spotlight) is when their team is taking fire. Otherwise they are giving the credit to their team/s. This aligns with what Dr. Greenleaf lived by/taught: servant leadership.
Thanks for your time.
10/10 to this article! Thank you for exposing an ugly truth within the companies.