TULSA, OK--(Marketwire - Mar 15, 2013) - With today being the Ides of March, many are reminded of Julius Caesar and the betrayal he suffered at the hands of Brutus. While this may have happened more than 2000 years ago, the issue of betrayal is still a common occurrence, particularly in the workplace.
To address this issue, Hogan Assessment Systems recently launched its latest eBook, "Trust and Betrayal," in which the company shares its research into the impact of betrayal in the workplace. According to a Hogan survey of more than 700 individuals, more than 80 percent of respondents reported that they had been lied to, stolen from, cheated or treated dishonestly by a supervisor or co-worker, highlighting the widespread instances of betrayal found throughout many companies.
The eBook explains how certain characteristics displayed by betrayers, such as charisma, self-absorption, self-deception and a hollow core, are often the same traits that propel such individuals to rise up the ranks of their company. The challenge for employers is to identify those who display the potential of being an ideal betrayer and taking the necessary steps to avoid the impact they can have on other employees' productivity, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and engagement.
Such methods to avoid the impact betrayers can have throughout an organization include:
- Adopt a new definition of leadership - As individuals typically advance by pleasing their superiors -- something at which betrayers are often adept -- it is more useful to define leadership in terms of a person's ability to build and maintain a high-performing team.
- Select leaders using valid assessment tools - Betrayers often perform well in interviews, relying on their confidence and charm. Psychometric assessments can identify character flaws and are immune to the charisma these individuals often display.
- Provide appropriate training and development - A gap between who individuals think they are and how others perceive them can inhibit a leader's ability to inspire others. Through personal assessment, feedback and targeted coaching, they can understand their strengths and weaknesses and how these factors impact their own performance.
"Having a betrayer in the office does more than just damage interpersonal relationships; such individuals can also hinder employee morale, engagement and productivity," said Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. "The organizations that can identify individuals with potential to be ideal betrayers, and intervene with the appropriate development plans, will be able to mitigate the risks of those behaviors and foster an environment of greater trust."
"Trust and Betrayal" is available for download at: http://info.hoganassessments.com/trust-and-betrayal
About Hogan Assessment Systems
With more than 30 years of experience, Hogan is the global leader in providing comprehensive, research-based personality assessment and consulting. Grounded in decades of science, Hogan helps businesses dramatically reduce turnover and increase productivity by hiring the right people, developing key talent and evaluating leadership potential.