The double bind is the defining condition of organisational man

Jules Goddard and Tony Eccles

In this extract from Uncommon Sense, Common Nonsense, Jules Goddard and Tony Eccles explore the concept of the double bind as presented to employees in business every day.

The double bind is the defining condition of organisational man

Jules Goddard and Tony EcclesLondon Business School and Cass Business School

"They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game."– RD Laing

Managed organisations create the conditions under which effective communication – and therefore interpersonal trust – is made particularly difficult. It presents its 'victims' with a variety of dilemmas that are seemingly irreconcilable....

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