Don’t Give Learned Helplessness A Chance

A paralyzing virus is lurking within many organizations, and it is solely responsible for countless failed transformations. It answers to the name “learned helplessness.”

Learned helplessness is not a hip term from yet another best-selling management book; it is a concrete and scientifically proven phenomenon in the behavior of both people and animals. It is a passive attitude in which “victims” believe they have no control over events that are happening to them. Luckily there are effective measures to tackle it.

Learned helplessness in animals

Scientists found the phenomenon first in animals. They let rats swim in a bowl of water, which was sealed with a lid. The animals started panicking and learned that their attempts to escape were to no avail. When those same rats were put in a bowl of water without a lid, they did not even make an attempt to save their lives. They had erroneously learned that there was no point. This discovery is attributed to Martin Seligman, who conducted a similar experiment with dogs.

Speaking of dogs, this clip is a nice illustration.

Learned helplessness in people

This remarkable phenomenon has also been observed in people, where it can stimulate depression, fear, shyness, and even loneliness. A classic example is that of a child failing a test at school. The child may think he or she is dumb, which is not necessarily true. But it can increase fear and stress for future tests, causing the child to give up. Learned helplessness in this clip is a ridiculous but relevant example.

Learned helplessness within organizations

Companies are vulnerable to learned helplessness, especially larger companies or companies with a business model that is disrupted. Learned helplessness is easy to recognize: The moment you notice that someone is not giving an opinion openly and honestly, you may be dealing with learned helplessness. That person might refrain from constructive feedback because he or she doesn’t see the point of bringing it forward in the first place.

This attitude may spread like wildfire within an organization! People start complaining and pass on negative sentiments, which will make other groups helpless, creating a network of helpless teams that blame each other and cannot break the negative cycle on their own.

You’ll need a new strategy to address the problem, and even then you’re not out of the danger zone, because culture eats strategy for breakfast.

Collective insurance against learned helplessness

The solution lies in the symbiosis between individual and collective. With learned helplessness, an individual is always opposing an environment in which he/she feels helpless. Organizations — or collectives — can implement the following improvements:

1. Create an atmosphere in which it is OK to make mistakes. Learned helplessness is driven by the fear of making mistakes. Removing this fear will create a fertile climate for Kaizen (continuous improvement).

2. Walk the talk! Strong leaders can convince others by setting a powerful example that they are on the right track, liberating them from their learned helplessness by providing meaning. Leaders who really lead can move entire tribes.

3. Make sure everyone is connected socially. A good internal social network is crucial for combating learned helplessness. People will be inspired when they see the successful impact of change and if they can see positive stories of colleagues who have achieved objectives by speaking up. This way everybody is more involved in the company, politics are reduced, and creativity is increased.

You are the best defense against learned helplessness!

Every human being must make his or her own choices. We have the capacity to influence our outside world and to take matters into our own hands — be a subject instead of an object.

Think positive. Believe in yourself. There is nothing stopping you in making your own choices. Break out of your comfort zone!