The Shadow of Individualism

by Jennifer Tribe

Published on this site: June 28th, 2005 - See more articles from this month...

Here is the Western Hemisphere, there is a heavy emphasis on individualism. People are taught to state their views and defend their individual rights uncompromisingly.

Few people worry very much about the effect of these values on social harmony and cooperation in a team, company, community or nation. Individualists employed by large corporations occasionally show a distressing lack of concern for the well-being of those they work with in the organization.

Most executives think it is important to "go it alone" due to their belief in the myth of individualism; they hold tightly to the idea that everyone succeeds or fails on the basis of individual efforts and abilities.

This assumption is so powerful that when an alternative view is suggested (that success depends on our relationships with others as much as it does on us) the usual reaction is denial. Denial of the role of relationships in the executive's success preserves the self-enhancing illusion that we are masters of our own fates and, therefore, deserving of all the credit for our successes.

The myth of individualism can negatively affect our chances for success. Consider that four out of ten newly promoted managers and executives fail within 18 months of starting new jobs, according to research by Manchester, Inc, a leadership development firm in Bala Cynwyd, PA. "Failing" includes being terminated for performance, performing significantly below expectations or voluntarily resigning from the new position.

For more on how the myth of individualism can adversely affect your chances of success, go to: http://home.att.net/~coachthee/next/index.html



John G. Agno, certified executive & business coach Signature, Inc., PO Box 2086, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Telephone: 734.426.2000 (US Eastern Time Zone) Email: mailto:[email protected] The most critical knowledge is self-knowledge. http://www.MentoringandCoaching.com