Strategies for Managerial and Employee Intervention in the Idealization-Frustration-Demoralization Cycle

Abstract

The effectiveness with which employees discharge their responsibilities in organizations is affected dramatically by the extent to which they feel disillusioned with their work. Managers with whom the authors work as consultants lament a cycle that begins with idealization, turns to frustration, and, left unchecked, yields demoralization (the IFD cycle). The authors investigate this cycle and advance two propositions: (1) employees have the right to function in organizations that conscientiously provide resources to obstruct the IFD cycle; and (2) employees have the responsibility to participate authentically in opportunities to obstruct the IFD cycle. Specific interventions into the cycle for restoration of “organizational health” are suggested.