Workplaces can be dysfunctional just like individuals. Businesses, just like people, display habits in behaviour and decision making. Thus it is possible that your business is neurotic, just like a person can be neurotic. Neurosis is repeating patterns of behaviour and decision-making that keep getting the same negative results. A business can get stuck in a neurotic loop of behaviour that is detrimental to the people in it. A neurotic workplace can cause unnecessary stress, anxiety, conflict and sometimes depression to the people working in that environment. Signs that your organisation is neurotic include;
- Learning is not happening. Change strategies and programs are organised, but they are not implemented with any lasting, positive changes. Learning doesn't happen when feedback is not effective, people are not being held to account, and they are stuck in old ways of working. And when the organisation is not learning and improving, it is difficult to engage employees or keep them motivated.
- Stubbornness – executives think they are right, but they don’t seek consultation from their stakeholders, or the consultation is limited and restricted. And after their decisions are made they are not held accountable for negative financial consequences and outcomes on employees. Even when staff leave in the fallout of these poor decisions and money is lost, the executive can recover unscathed and still may not learn from their mistakes. This makes people believe the rules are not fairly distributed and demotivates them to put in any extra effort above the minimum required to get paid.
- Managers don’t hold staff to account for their productivity or lack of it, and this demotivates the good workers.
- Staff are not given any job security and as a result of their added stress and anxiety, their productivity is not maximised.
- As a result of the above, employees dont have a clear vision for where the business is headed, and self-interest values are adopted over values related to the greater good.
At Charleston Consulting, we offer individual and group coaching services to executives that helps you get out of a neurotic rut, and to employees who need skills to cope with working in a neurotic organisation. If you would like to learn more, please fill out our contact form, and check out the Thrive Learning Program, which can help improve your psychological skills.
https://www.petercharleston.com/courses