Don't be a Baboon!

Just when you think you've got it all figured out ... someone calls you an ape. Well, not literally, but in the context of fragile situations (in this case the economy) Bob Sutton relates the behavior of Baboon's with behavior in the workplace. Take a quick read through his article "Beware the Baboon Boss" to get an idea of how your boss is observed in unpredictable situations. Bob describes that apes will "glance obsessively toward the group leader" to look for telltale signs of warning or actions. Every 20 seconds ... no wonder monkey business is around.

I first heard of Bob's research on HBR's IdeaCast (podcast) on "How to be a Good Boss in a Bad Economy" and found the relationship intriguing. In the interview, Bob discusses his premise, the Toxic Tandem, as a double whammy where managers hole themselves up and self preserve while, in tandem, subordinates look to them feverishly for information about the unpredictable environments they find themselves in. When in this state, hypersensitivity of subordinates needs to be focused on to dispel any myths or rumors to ease uncertainty among rank and file.

The partial article "How to Be a Good Boss in a Bad Economy" can also be found here. Have fun!