The Hidden Costs of Executive Power Plays: How Corporate Politics Harm Every Level of the Organization
Behind the glossy façade of many corporations lies a world of secrecy, competition, and power struggles—a drama often centered at the executive level. Top executives jockey for influence, leverage hidden alliances, and, at times, engage in outright backstabbing to solidify their positions. While the illusion of harmony is often carefully maintained, these dynamics ripple throughout the organization, creating harm far beyond the boardroom. The Secrecy of the Executive Circle At the highest levels of an organization, information is currency. Executives often guard key company data, strategic plans, or decisions, sharing only selectively to maintain control. This secrecy fosters an environment of distrust, as employees at lower levels sense that critical information is
Why We Must Use the Word “Radical” When Addressing Religious Groups That Advocate Violence
Language is never neutral. The words we use shape how we perceive the world, influence public opinion, and construct the narratives that define societies. When discussing religious groups that promote violence and death, the use of the term “radical” is essential—not merely for precision, but to protect the dignity of peaceful adherents of those religions. Social constructionism, a framework that highlights how our shared understanding of reality is shaped through language, makes it clear that the failure to carefully choose our words can reinforce false narratives, stigmatize peaceful communities, and obscure the true nature of violence. Language Shapes Reality Social constructionism argues that our understanding of reality is not fixed or inherent
Why Do We Excuse Harmful Behavior from the Wealthy and Powerful?
When Elon Musk recently made a gesture that some interpreted as resembling a Nazi salute, it sparked outrage across social media. Amidst the backlash, there were also defenders who dismissed the controversy as overblown or accidental. This kind of reaction raises a significant question: Why do we make excuses for the behavior of certain individuals, particularly those who are wealthy and powerful? It’s not a new phenomenon. Throughout history, individuals in positions of significant influence have been granted a kind of cultural grace, even when their actions are questionable or outright harmful. Is this because of their power? Their vast wealth? Or something more deeply ingrained in societal attitudes? The Intersection of
The Astonishing Depth of Our Ancestry: What It Means to Be Us
I have been researching my family history for around 50 years. Have you ever stopped to reflect on the thousands of persons to whom we owe our very existence? Each of us carries within us the legacy of countless lives. When we look at the numbers, the enormity of our ancestry is breathtaking. We are shaped by generations of people, each with their own unique stories, struggles, and triumphs. Here’s how the numbers unfold: By the time we reach just ten generations, over a thousand individuals have directly contributed to our genetic makeup. And this is just the beginning. Each of these people lived a life shaped by their own circumstances, choices,
The Dignity of Recognition: A Call to Action for the Emergent Self
Dignity is often described as inherent to being human, yet this perspective misses an essential truth: dignity is not something we merely possess by birthright. Instead, it is something that must be actively brought into existence through recognition. This recognition does not happen in isolation but within the relational contexts of our lives. To recognize someone’s dignity is to affirm their worth and humanity through intentional acknowledgment, respect, and action. Without this act of recognition, dignity remains a dormant potential, unrealized and ineffectual in shaping our shared existence. Dignity is relational by nature. It depends on the acknowledgment of others to come alive. While we may understand dignity as a theoretical concept,
Dismantling Divides: Embracing Complexity and Connection
Human beings’ tendency to dichotomize—dividing concepts, groups, or ideas into binary opposites—can be analyzed through the lenses of social constructionism, conflict theory, and relational theory. While the first two perspectives explain how and why dichotomies emerge, relational theory provides a framework for moving beyond these divisions and highlights the necessity of doing so. Social Constructionism Perspective Social constructionism suggests that much of our understanding of reality is created through social interactions and cultural norms. Dichotomization often arises as a way to organize and simplify complex realities, enabling societies to maintain order and shared understanding. Conflict Theory Perspective Conflict theory focuses on power dynamics and the struggle for resources, emphasizing how dichotomization serves