Anxiety and organization: what I learned about anxiety in a psychiatric ward in the 70s that turned out to be useful for managers in daily practice

ABSTRACT

This essay is a contribution to ‘de-pathologizing’ anxiety, reaffirm it into organization studies, and cast light on some findings on anxiety among staff members in a psychiatric ward. I will endeavor to reveal how I as a young researcher examined anxiety influences that have proven helpful to managers, suggesting that (1) anxiety comes in cold and warm forms, (2) organization is a way to deal with primordial anxiety, (3) organization causes systems anxiety, and (4) a socio–psycho personality dimension mediates the relationship between anxiety and organization. Managers need both anxiety and security – feeling secure enough to dare venture, and anxious enough to have the energy to perform effectively. I hope the essay will be a contribution to the task of bringing the concept of anxiety more out and into the light, helping organizational members to become safer and more successful in their different roles as leaders and co-workers.