Imagine you are in a public bus. A teenager comes in and puts her shoes on the seat across from you. Her shoes are muddy, and the next person to sit on the seat will most likely get his/her clothes dirty. Would you say something to the teenager? Or imagine [...]
The effects of power on individuals is different from the effects of power on teams. While power may make individuals feel empowered and lead them to pursue their goals, power within teams may actually make people more focused on their dependencies and vulnerabilities towards one another [...]
I have been restless to expand my understanding of the areas in the brain that drive courageous action since returning from studying the Neuroscience and psychology of decision making at Stanford University Having won an eleven year war of attrition securing justice against corporate malfeasance, I acquired an assortment of [...]
"That would never happen in our organisation" is one of the push back narratives I hear when introducing myself and my services to decision making senior executives in organisations. Actually, it’s not even a narrative, it’s a defensive mantra and you know what happens with those - they evolve into blind-spots. I [...]
Just imagine: Your boss asks you to run a series of special training days for other employees. At first you feel rather flattered that your boss is considering you for this task. But you soon realise that there are costs involved: for one, you are expected to prepare for the [...]
True Story: One of the LeisureNet joint CEOs, Peter, summonsed the project accountant, “Tony”, a senior manager, into his office. In rapid and hushed tones, Peter briefed Tony in the corridor saying that he had the directors of our largest offshore investors, Capvest, on the phone. The Capvest directors were [...]
“Next time I come for a meeting with you make sure you’re braless” External Bank Manager “If you interrupt my meeting, you need to be punished and that means me ‘taking you’ on my desk” Followed by being picked up and laid across the desk. Sales and Marketing Director “You know [...]
Although evidence has mounted that employees speaking up helps managers identify problems and improve organisational effectiveness, voice from subordinates is still not well received by managers. In this blog I want to focus on how the process of the way we compare ourselves with others (social comparison) and gender can [...]
There is no wonder my whistleblowing case is known as "South Africa’s Enron". There are significant and identifiable parallels. In this blog I want to focus on the the attempt by the joint CEOs of the organisation I blew the whistle on, to persuade the Chairman of the Audit committee, [...]
If conformism and obedience are basic elements in our culture, nonconformity, disobedience, and whistleblowing are vital for its progress. My mobile phone rang at 3.00 am. It was one of the CEOs on the line and his voice bristled with anger and indignation. "Get yourself over to the office now, [...]
