- The Meta lawsuit reveals a 2016 email sent by Mark Zuckerberg to employees.
- In one article, he gave his team strict instructions to “figure out” a way to break Snapchat's encryption.
- One therapist told me why this tactic lacks emotional intelligence and can be counterproductive.
Mark Zuckerberg instructed Facebook employees to track encrypted user analytics from competitor Snapchat, according to newly unsealed emails in the lawsuit against Meta.
Beyond the ethically ambiguous request to break through Snapchat's encryption, Zuckerberg ended his email with a stark message: “We need to find a way to do it.”
“The tone of this email is all about work, no details,” Dr. Ronald Riggio, a professor of leadership and organizational psychology at Claremont McKenna College, told Business Insider. He said this was “not unusual” for his boss.
Empathetic managers should know that such statements “can cause anxiety and tension in employees,” says certified therapist Annie Wright.
Mr. Riggio and Mr. Wright talked about why curt shame-based tactics not only harm employees, but can also be counterproductive to business in the long run.
Stress is an opaque motivator
The reason your boss sends an urgent and condescending email is simple. From the outside, Wright says, fear may appear to be a strong motivator for some people.
She said that for people whose nervous systems are prone to hyperarousal when they are stressed, “emails like this may generate activity, determination, and quick action to appease and please the boss.” For example, people pleasers may take action themselves.
You may see quick results, but your attrition rate will be high. A bad boss is one of the main reasons people quit their jobs.
Additionally, Wright said some people may have very different reactions, such as shutting down.they experience hypoThe nervous system wakes up and freezes under pressure.
Emails like this only increase the likelihood of needing therapy to deal with a toxic work environment.
Creates a workplace culture where it is difficult to speak up
Riggio said the bigger problem with Zuckerberg's email was his unethical request, and the tone of the email made it harder to say “no.”
He said standing up to someone of Zuckerberg's stature and power can be very difficult, especially when your boss is so focused on his job.
“That's why a lot of leaders get into trouble,” he said, referring to the recent Boeing controversy. In creating a rigid, top-down, uncooperative culture, “they do something and the people who follow them either turn a blind eye or just carry on.”
Great leaders are empathetic
At face value, Riggio says there's nothing wrong with an “I understand this” email, depending on your boss's relationship with the report.
“If the relationship is one that requires employees to take the initiative to come up with new solutions or be creative in how they do their work, such statements can imply trust rather than judgment.” he said.
The 2016 emails unearthed by Mr. Zuckerberg were sent at a time when many companies are looking for emotionally intelligent leaders who can empathize with employees' emotions and make workplaces more unified and successful. It was given to me.
“A good boss, a good leader should do both. You need to get things done, but you also need to develop people to follow through,” Riggio said.
