Unmasking Organizational Silence and Denial: The Power of Voicing Uncomfortable Truths скачать в хорошем качестве

Unmasking Organizational Silence and Denial: The Power of Voicing Uncomfortable Truths

In this video, we delve into the concept of organizational silence, which connects to role theory and involves concepts of denial and defenses. Organizational silence is an active avoidance of discussing uncomfortable or painful topics, ultimately maintaining social wellbeing but potentially disrupting moral behavior. Denial is often socialized, influenced by our upbringing, culture, and job training. This silence, denial, and avoidance can have grave consequences if left unchecked, examples being extreme situations like incest, family rape, and concentration camps. Interestingly, silence isn't merely ignoring things - it's often an active process. Understanding how denial is enabled can help us combat it. Factors like power imbalances, bureaucracy, silent bystanders, and the duration of the silence can enable denial. The longer the silence persists, the harder it becomes to break. In the corporate world, executives often internalize their roles and the expectations associated with them. The desire to demonstrate their efficiency can lead them to suppress feedback and create an environment of organizational silence. This silence can result in high costs like individual isolation and group dysfunctionality. Breaking this silence is critical but also risky. Whistleblowers or those who break the silence often face pushback and may even be seen as traitors. However, ignoring the "elephant in the room" can lead to severe issues, making breaking the silence an essential, albeit challenging, task. This content is courtesy of the HTW Berlin, one of Germany's leading business schools. Check out our other mini-lectures and scan the QR code for further reading on this topic. A highly recommended book is: Zerubavel, E. (2006). The elephant in the room: Silence and denial in everyday life. Oxford University Press. If you are in class, please take a look at the other mini lectures about feedback and defenses.