Organizational Phrogs

Years ago, Jerry Harvey, professor of organization behavior at the George Washington University, wrote a piece in the OD Network newsletter discussing "Organizational Phrogs." Jerry is one my favorite authors. He is well known for the Abiline Paradox, Group Tyranny -- the Gunsmoke Phenomenon, and the Asoh Defense. Jerry's sense of humor has always made learning a lot of fun for me.

Now, what is the topic all about? Jerry chose the ph spelling on purpose. In his view, frogs do not like to be called frogs. They prefer to mask their identity and to blend in the landscape. They are masters of camouflage. They eat insects. Frogs usually come out at night and, although they cannot be seen, their mating calls can be heard. Some frogs come in very unusual colors -- they are few in number -- and use their unique coloring to warn predators that they are poisonous. As amphibians, frogs are equipped with a latex kind of skin to protect them from the water. On a full moon, the reflection can give away their camouflage. They live in ponds or by rivers. They are nocturnal.

I am taking some liberties with Jerry's work to illustrate what I have come to witness inside contemporary organizations.

Organizational phrogs do exist and thrive. As their counterparts in the wild, they like anonymity and they like to blend in the background. They feast on gossip and they augument the organizational chatter by spreading rumors, back biting, and badmouthing their colleagues. They can also be great brown-nosers by charming superiors with their professed loyalty, ideas, and "by-the-way" dialogue. On a bright night, their shiny skin might give them away and make them targets. A few of them can be outright venemous, evil in their intent. Their unique coloring warns others about their letal poison.

In my entire career, I have encountered less than half a dozen of this rare breed. But when I have witnessed them, I have discovered that they can do much damage.

Phrogs do have a place in the organizational ecosystem.

Their whisper fills the night's silence. Their mating call attracts others of the same kind and breaks the daily monotony. Together, they comprise a community of practice -- self serving, often injurious to others' careers. Unchecked, they can become a nuisance and a health hazzard. They feast on "bad" information, and they gain energy from one another's speculations. Containing rather than eliminating them is needed. Exposing them will dimish the harm they might inflict.

Have you seen any phrogs in your organization?
How would you chracterize them?
How do you deal with them?