Ruining It for the Rest of UsThis American LifeEric Glass

Can ONE person in the workplace ruin the workplace?

Bad Apple Behaviors Reflect 3 personality types

Jerk Attacks, insults others

Slacker Does little or no work

Depressive Pessimist Has little hope for success

Bad Apple Experiment

Can ONE bad apple negatively impact a TEAM? Logistics

Confederate (Actor) teamed with college students Team was familiar with basic management

decision making to solve a problem Given 45 minutes to complete the exercise Group was told they would receive a prize and

$100 for completing the assignment

Nick “The Bad Apple”

Playing the Jerk “Are you kidding me?!?!?!?” “Have you actually taken a business course before?!?”

Playing the Slacker Laid back body position, texting, eating

Depressive Pessimist Head down on table, depressed (S-I-G-H)

Bad Apple Traits

Depressive Pessimist Complains that the task is not enjoyable Makes statements that the group will not

succeed

Jerk Other group member ideas are inadequate but

will offer not alternatives

Slacker “Whatever…” “I don’t really care…”

According to Research….

Bad apple should have NO impact on the group.

People typically adhere to GROUP values and norms.

Bad Apple experiment found the opposite to be true Groups performed worse

Regardless of talent/personality of team members.

Teams performed 30-40% worse than those without the bad apple.

The BEST predictor of how any team performs is not

how the best team member is or the average group

member is, but how your worst team member is.

Am I the Bad Apple?

How is MY behavior affecting the group? What can I do to change?

Attitudes are Contagious.Is yours worth catching?

Great Performance in spite of the Bad Apple

Strong Leadership

Asking Questions/input from EACH Team member

Diffusing conflict immediately