APPA Library

"Leading Our Team: The Impact of Work Alienation"
Author: Andy Krouse, Ph.D., and Bonnie Davis, MBA
Published In: Facilities Manager
Date: January/February 2022

Leading our teams is no easy task. Each team is made up of individuals with different motivations, communication styles, and values. It is our job as leaders to shape the values of our team, understand their motivations, and communicate with them in the best way possible. Work alienation is one of the ways we can negatively impact a strong work environment. By understanding and identifying what leaders do to increase work alienation, we can learn to mitigate its impact. Work alienation is the detachment sometimes felt by team members in their various roles. Some factors contributing to this detachment include not having control over one’s activities, lacking a sense of purpose, and not receiving internal gratification from one’s work. As the level of work alienation increases, the willingness to go above and beyond is reduced. If the detachment is strong enough or goes on long enough, it can take a “perfect fit” employee and turn them into a minimal performer. This is one of many ways poor leadership can negatively impact your team.

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