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When Utopia Becomes Dystopia
Problems with Dysfunctional Harmony
At the opposite end of the spectrum from the bully lurks another troublesome leader—one who can be just as damaging. Whereas the bully may thrive on making people feel uncomfortable when he enters a room, the pleaser thrives on just the opposite. She wants everyone to like and approve of her, to feel comfortable around her, to believe she is on their side. And just as everyone gets along with the pleaser, the pleaser boss also wants all of them to get along with one another. She wants people on the outside to perceive her company as a realm of peace and harmony—happy worker bees in a seemingly utopian hive.
That’s the “harmony” part. But the “dysfunctional” modifier comes in ...
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