DR. LYNN FRIEDMAN'S BLOG, "ALL THINGS PSYCHOANALYTIC"

Corporate dysfunction: Assess & Address by Dr. Lynn Friedman

Tell any senior leader that you are a psychoanalyst to corporations, and the floodgates open.

No matter how high up they are in the food chain, no matter how profitable the corporation, they will regale you with tales of organizational dysfunction.

A hot-tempered chief executive officer with a serious drinking problem is legendary for his vituperative tirades.

A successful senior financial executive is notorious for sexual harassment.

The vice president of a nonprofit fails to back his manager even when this leaves the nonprofit vulnerable to a lawsuit.

A senior partner, a rainmaker, is renowned for hemorrhaging associates.

Ask when the problems began, and you will discover they existed in the culture for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, these behaviors often do not get recognized as problems until they pose a significant financial or legal threat.

What prevents us from stopping behaviors that are costly, obnoxious or even illegal? And what can be done about it?

The answer is as complex as the people within the companies.

A first step is to describe the organizational difficulty in detail.Continued on the Washington Business Journal website

This column was previously published at the Washington Business Journal. "Corporations on the Couch", is nationally-syndicated. If you'd like for it to appear in your local business paper please contact the editor.

Dr. Lynn Friedman is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and executive coach. She is on the adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University. If you'd like to consult her, she can be reached at: 5480 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, (301) 656-9650, drlynnfriedman@comcast.net. Website: <http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/worklife.html>

Turncoat boss requires special care by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.

Your boss, John, has done it again. And once again you feel you've been had.

Dealing with a dicey internal political situation, you confided in him. You needed his sponsorship and told him so. You gave him a compelling rationale for your position and described how he could be helpful. His response came as a great relief.

Empathic, concerned, thoughtful, he assured you that you would have his total support. So you slept well and attended the meeting relaxed and confident. And John, in the loveliest, most gracious way -- acting as if he were giving you a gift -- torpedoed your request.

Still worse, afterward, he evinced no contrition, not even a twinge of discomfort. He offered no explanation and acted as though you should be happy with the outcome.

Aside from being furious, you're mystified. How could he be so seemingly compassionate, so reassuring -- and then do the exact opposite of what he promised? More puzzling, how could he act as if he had done nothing upsetting?

Most disconcerting, he has a reputation as a nice guy. You can see why. You thought so too!

So you meet with him privately and tell him how disappointed you were. After all, he gave you his word and then switched horses midstream. John acts as if he completely understands. He even apologizes.

But later you learn that behind your back, sitting with the corporate elders, he rewrites history and manages to convey that you have a problem. You're dismayed when you learn that he has done this to you more than once.Continued at Dr. Lynn Friedman's website

This column was previously published at the Washington Business Journal, Pacific Business News (Honolulu), Baltimore Business Journal and Business First of Columbus (Ohio). This column, Corporations on the Couch, is nationally-syndicated. If you'd like for it to appear in your local business paper please request it from your paper.

Dr. Lynn Friedman is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and executive coach. She is on the adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University. If you'd like to consult her, she can be reached at: 5480 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, (301) 656-9650, drlynnfriedman@comcast.net. Website: <http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/worklife.html>