WIIFM

WIIFM is an acronym for "What's In It For Me," the antithesis of teamwork. Such organizational cultures are toxic and grossly ineffective (at best). The organizational leader teaches employees that acting in their own self-interest is acceptable and will garner the desired result. Employee’s who do care about the advancement of the organization as a whole, may become resentful toward the self-serving interests of, and rewards given to, the WIIFM co-worker (so be careful).

While WIIFM tactics can heed immediate results, such tactics are Band-Aids on the organizational broken leg. And, organizational leaders only re-enforce the WIIFM mentality each time they repeat the tactic.

Much like a child who throws a temper tantrum in order to get a cookie, the parent should not believe that giving the cookie will be the "easy" way out. Sure, it stops the immediate tantrum, and is in fact easier at that moment, but in the long run, the parent is creating a monster.

Once established, the WIIFM culture is VERY hard to change. Why? Because the WIIFM's see the leadership as also adopting a WIIFM mentality and this is (ironically) seen as "selfish" on the part of the WIIFM and questions arise regarding the motives of the leadership. There is a feeling of entitlement. Are you still with me? This is confusing, I know.

The bottom line...if you are a WIIFM leader, you will create (or sustain) a culture of the same.

Leadership cannot, and will not, change the culture until they adopt (and consistently demonstrate) a mantra of "We" over "I."

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