In this episode, I explore how two common workplace archetypes—the arrogant craftsman and the sports-style managerial leader—can damage organizations in different ways. The craftsman type tends to weaken teams horizontally by hoarding knowledge and discouraging younger employees, while the sports-style manager often causes vertical damage by spreading conformity, valuing effort display over results, and gradually weakening independent thinking across the organization. This is not about blaming individuals, but understanding structural patterns that shape behavior. By examining how culture, incentives, and hierarchy interact, this episode invites listeners to think more deeply about how organizations decline—and how certain leadership styles can unintentionally accelerate that process.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related