I don’t like bad apples in companies or on teams. They bring a negative attitude to the equation, they infect positive people with negative venom, and they destroy company cultures slowly but surely. Typically they practice and create all five of the common dysfunctions of teams, and wreak havoc on small businesses around the country. So why do so many people “allow” and therefore “encourage” the bad apples? Because they simply don’t want to confront them, that’s why.
What do Bad apples do?
- They constantly create conflict among everyone.
- They constantly create doubt in the leader and the organization.
- They constantly make small digs toward others behind their back eroding trust.
- They allow and participate in the seven emotional cancers of comparing, complaining, contending, criticizing, contention, being cynical, and competing internally.
- They maliciously obey and set others up to fail.
- They let you down at the most in-opportune times costing you opportunity and time.
- They hurt your overall brand in the delivery and appearance of professionalism because they simply don’t care.
When you have a bad apple on your team you spend more time soothing than you do selling. You spend more time massaging than coaching and you spend more time “walking on egg shells” vs. building a real culture. Bad apples “infect” the whole bunch slowly but surely and will ultimately destroy everything, including your profit margin or ability to win a championship.
What do I do with my bad apples?
- Identify them fast and know this is a core values mis-alignment. What started off as hopeful will quickly turn disasterous.
- Address the unmet expectation and the attitude with specific corrections and time periods. Hold them accountable to what they said they would do when they were hired or joined the team. Where there are no consequences there is no change in behavior.
- Cut bait. Most don’t like turnover and say it has negative effects. I would tell you the opposite. If you have the wrong people know that there are the right people out there if you go looking for them. Don’t hold on to duds. Don’t allow this worry to prohibit you from taking action.
- Ask yourself why you are hiring all these “bad apples.” Most likely you are doing a poor job vetting the new people and are a quick start when it comes to just putting the wrong people on the bus and then trying to get them to be the right people.
There’s a reason people constantly say “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.” It’s because they can. I can’t tell you how many “bad apples” I see in companies that undermine, back stab, are ungrateful for their opportunities or take advantage of the company they work for. They suck the life out of all the hustlers and grinders.
I say we take a stand against all of those that are under performing and get back to removing entitlement and restoring work ethic and team work. Will you address all the bad apples in your bunch or continue to allow them to erode your culture and potential? If you do, then this one is on you.