Procrustes – in Greek mythology – is a giant who smashes with hammers anyone who does not fit the dimensions of the bed in his house. If someone is very large, Procrustes mutilates him so that his legs do not go further than the bed; and if it’s too small, stretch it for a perfect fit. Procrustes is a synonym for one who extinguishes the light of others.
How many times do institutions become the house of Procrustes? The Procrustes syndrome occurs when those in power are unable to recognize the ideas of those who do not match the proposed scheme. Patients with Procrustes syndrome disqualify others in every possible way and minimize their actions, while emphasizing their own.
An institution that has members with Procrustes syndrome will not be able to mediate the difficulties of coexistence (typical of work environments). Symptoms of a specimen having Procrustes syndrome are manifestations of rivalry, absence of empathy, and abundant mutilation. Therefore, organizations must distinguish between healthy competition and destructive rivalry.
The Procrustes syndrome is harmful, especially when it is mixed with an undertone of megalomania, i.e. that characteristic that distinguishes those who harbor a delusion about its importance and which, unfortunately, find echoes in fragile institutional structures, which do not risk alternative leadership.
Procrustes syndrome becomes a problem because it makes it impossible to work together for the benefit of something. What happens when two Procrustes meet? In this sense, the history of Ecuadorian politics seems to have several traces of this syndrome. How many times have we seen internal strife between the legislature, executive and judiciary? How many times has instinctive envy and hatred prevented the country from reaching substantive agreements? Unfortunately, many times.
Detecting and warning against Procrustes syndrome involves an effort to educate every organizational leader about the dangers of acting from individualism and arrogance of power. Power disappears in a short time, but institutions suffer attacks of selfish management. The price is too high when leadership is ceded – to giants – who will use few resources to inflate their image and will be offended when others seek to generate an alternative idea.
A study published in Spain by Maldonado Briegas, Álvarez Martínez, Abdo Touma and Vicente Castro (2023), entitled “Procrustes syndrome and its impact on current organizational behavior”, warns organizations that they should not appoint those with Procrustes to management levels syndrome, since they carry ominous threats and the only thing they want is to shine on their own.
A character antonymous to Procrustes syndrome can be minga, because every person puts their best into it. Every idea is welcome, as it is valued as a community product. Let us hope that in the state of the Ming, they will prevail over the poor efforts to overshadow those who are beginning to shine. (OR)
Source: Eluniverso
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
