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The Case of the Temperamental Talent

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The Case of the
Temperamental Talent by Lawrence R. Rothstein
Harvard Business Review
No. 92608
Harvard Business Review
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1992
Reprint Number
CHARLES HANDY BALANCING CORPORATE POWER:
A NEW FEDERALIST PAPER
92604
JERROLD T. LUNDQUIST SHRINKING FAST AND SMART IN THE
DEFENSE INDUSTRY
92606
NANCY A. NICHOLS PROFITS WITH A PURPOSE:
AN INTERVIEW WITH TOM CHAPMAN
92602
RAVI VENKATESAN STRATEGIC SOURC1NG:
TO MAKE OR NOT TO MAKE
92610
AMAR BHIDE BOOTSTRAP FINANCE:
THE ART OF START-UPS
92601
WILLIAM G. PAGONIS THE WORK OF THE LEADER 92607
LAWRENCE R. ROTHSTEIN
HBR CASE STUDY
THE CASE OF THE TEMPERAMENTAL TALENT 92608
DAVID H. FREEDMAN
IN QUESTION
IS MANAGEMENT STILL A SCIENCE? 92603
KEN VEIT
FIRST PERSON
THE RELUCTANT ENTREPRENEUR …show more content…

Ken and I had a very unpleasant meeting.
Ken wouldn't hear about the employee assistance program, so I recommended he see a therapist. Well,
Ken felt humiliated. The only reason he went is because he believed he was under pressure from Bob to do something. The therapist is nutstanding and works with people like
Ken .ill the time. But Ken attended only two sessions before he insulted the man and left, for good."
"I think he's dangerous," Morris interjected. Harold ignored Morris's remark and continued. "Ken's case is a little c o m p l i c a t e d because ot personal problems he has right now. You know, it's not uncommon for middle- aged executives like Ken to engage in aberrant behavior when they're under intense pressure. For
Ken, it means wearing a motorcycle o u t f i t and roaring around on a
Harley. He's going back to a time when he was younger and felt he was more in control of his life.
"But the real problem is notJCen.
Nor ijjjt the reorganization plan itself.
It's the human factor. Change is inherently stressful. Ken wants to do a good job, and he sees the reorganization making it difficult for him to do the quality work he values - the kind of work that's made him a star.
4 DRAWINGS BY CHUCK MORRIS
On top of his personal problems, it's not surprising that he blew up."
"So some people have a problem dealing with change," Morns said.
" T h e tact is, they have to adjust.
That's reality. I don't mean to be cold, but the

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