The Weinstein (& Lauer) Effect: Dwork Predators

destructivework dwork Dec 01, 2017

What do Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and others predators have in common?

Dwork

Dwork is defined as Destructive Work.

Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a destructive purpose or result.

Dwork People ruin people’s lives, rob value from organisations and take the fun out of your life or career.

Sexual abuse is high on the Dwork scale. Murder is at the top with genocide even higher (e.g. Hitler).

Murder is an obvious example, but what about “slow murder”, or “death by a thousand paper cuts”. This goes on daily in every country, every society and many, many organisations.

It’s not easy to face that people deliberately create Dwork results. That’s why they get away with it so much. It’s harder when they are in a position of power, a media personality, rich business person, your boss or manager.

The Weinstein Effect and #metoo

Why do people tolerate this behaviour?

There’s a new term: The Weinstein Effect. One person comes forward, then others come forward. It’s safe to speak out. The Dwork People are eliminated from their organisations and positions of power, finally.

Sure, plenty in the media is false and people do lie for their own financial gain … but when there’s smoke there’s fire.

When Dwork people are wreaking havoc, people see it, they know about it. It will always be discovered, no matter how covert, vile or threatening they are, the cat will eventually be let out of that bag.

How much damage and destruction can one person cause?

Let’s look at the most recent high profile example: Matt Lauer.

Firstly, there’s the mental and emotional damage to the woman abused. You can’t quantify that. How did it affect their career? Their performance at work? Their private life?

Secondly, there’s the damage to his ex-employer. What are the financial costs to NBC? How much time, money and effort is being spent to fix up his mess? I’m sure many people are spending all their time dealing with his Dwork results.

Thirdly, there’s his $20 million a year contract. After publicly apologizing “…I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC.”

In typical Dwork fashion he is set to sue NBC for $30 million to get the rest of his contract payment. Even if he doesn’t get it — still a colossal waste of everyone’s time and efforts. I’m sure they’ve got more valuable things to do. But because Matt Lauer is a Dwork person he continues to create damage.

When you sum it up there’s a large package of destruction which affects many people: Emotional, mental, career damage, team productivity and financial.

Why do people tolerate Dwork People?

The vast majority of people aren’t crazy, perverted or destructive. They can’t comprehend that kind of activity because it never occurs to them to use such behaviour. They are too busy helping and adding value (Vwork™ People). Yet, Vwork people are in a constant battle with Dwork people.

If you let D-work activities go on around you, it will affect you and the organisation. It will lead to failure in the long run. It comes back and bites you in the ass, as it has at NBC.

Remember that, the next time someone is being destructive around you.

Don’t tolerate D-work People.

Dwork people are not confined to Hollywood producers, politicians or movie stars. They are in the lime light and ripe tabloid fodder, so we get bombarded with it when it happens to a “high profile” person.

But you’ll find Dwork people in organisations all over the world. Small, medium and large.

Toxic managers who bully employees and look after their own interests.
The employee who stole your customers and then sued you.
The boss who slept with his secretary, betrayed his wife and family, and then crashed the company in the fallout.
A client who takes all your products and services and then refuses to pay.
The “rock star” recruit who promises the world, delivers nothing while pretending to work.
The list goes on.

I’ve come across many in my business and consulting career. I’m sure you have your own stories. I’d love to hear them, because by identifying these people and observing their common traits, they become easier to spot … feel free vent away in the comments below.

You’ll find it therapeutic.

Take a stand and no longer tolerate D-work People.

In the first place, don’t hire them. I cover how to filter them out in the Vwork Hiring System.

Until next time, face up to those Dwork People, they are rarely as tough as they appear.

Be Valuable,