Hi, Sean - thanks for an interesting article.

Your example of lockerroom talk was a good one.  We see this in organizations and groups continually ... reluctance to engage in positive confrontation combined with a "go along to get along" attitude.

I do think the tendency to "follow the leader" is a separate issue to some degree.  It is partly about failure to confront due to fear of conflict, but I believe that lack of engagement in the larger vision and a task-focused mentality are also responsible to some degree.

I do not hear this as much these days, but a famous saying goes something like "Not my job".  This is probably one of the most irritating things an employee at any level can say, and when the thing which is not their job threatens the organization, it is downright stupid and short-sighted.

Thanks for a though-provoking post:)

John