Friday Flashback: Bad Apple Effect

Your group may be more susceptible to it than you think

by Dan Lentz

You have heard it said, "One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel." There was an interesting study recently published by the University of Washington in the journal "Research in Organizational Behavior." Here’s a quote from the study: "One 'bad apple' can spread negative behavior like a virus to bring down officemates or destroy a good team. Negative behavior outweighs positive behavior, so a bad apple can spoil the whole barrel, but one or two good workers can't 'unspoil' it. Companies need to move quickly to deal with such problems because the negativity of just one individual is pervasive and destructive and can spread quickly." That comes from co-author Terence Mitchell, a professor of management and organization.

The study defines negative workers as those who do not do their fair share of the work, are chronically unhappy and emotionally unstable, or bully or attack others. The same "bad apple" effect can also have a significant impact a small group or church. Of course, the Lord knew about the dangers of the "bad apple" effect inside the church long before research confirmed it.

The New Testament gives strong guidelines on dealing with divisive believers. But before a divisive bad apple emerges, a trail of seemingly smaller sins and offenses typically precedes it.
Matthew 18:15-17 describes a process for dealing with sin and offense, first at the immediate relational level, and then involving an increasing scope of people and leadership as necessary. According to the progression of events, the first place bad apple behavior should be dealt with and resolved is in the personal relationships where the offense happened in the first place. This can stop the "bad apple effect" before it even gets started.

The importance of working hard to resolve the offense early is critical because the more people who need to become involved to resolve the issue, the more potential there is for side-taking divisive behavior.

A few years ago, SmallGroups.com surveyed group leaders and found that 22 percent of them had a situation with a relational offense in their group "right now." So, from this information, we might assume that at any given time, 1 in 5 groups may have a relational offense situation ongoing. That means the likelihood of your group facing just such a situation is pretty high. I pray these situations are being resolved with truth and grace so that group members do not develop bitter roots and become potentially divisive to the small group or the broader church.

Small-group relationships are the first place that potential bad apples can be kept healthy and free from relational decay. The question is: How well are our groups doing at working through these situations in a biblical manner, so as to avoid the “bad apple effect”? That’s a question I don’t have a good answer to, but I think it’s worth evaluating in your group. Otherwise, a bad apple can spoil your small group -- and even an entire congregation.

posted by Dan Lentz on February 12, 2010 12:54 PM

Related Tags: Conflict, Dan Lentz, Division

Comments

Good post, Dan. I've always found Pat Silora's info, which Standard published in Why Didn't You Warn Me (http://www.standardpub.com/detail.aspx?ID=3197) the most helpful resource out there in dealing specifically with challenges or challenging group members.

Dan, excellent info. I'm going to link to this on my blog at www.whydidntyouwarnme.com tonight. And Mike, thanks for the kind words. Appreciate both of you!

We have seen the bad apple effect at my workplace and it can be a real problem. Not only do you have the bad "seed" but I have lost good coworker who just cant take the environment. I do not think these people can be saved an a change in employment is the only cure.

The bad apple effect is poison, the best way to avoid it is to have more target based, measurable management that is supported by constant transparent evaluations and analysis.
Best wishes to you Dan.

I agree. I used to work at an orphanage, and I really got to see this principle at work there. It's much easier to restrain a child who's acting out than it is to safely defuse the situation when that child has acted out so much they think they can physically intimidate you and they decide to punch you because they don't like your decision.

Hopefully, bad apples in church don't get to the point of punching the pastor, but the principle is the same. If we act early, we can quickly instill an understanding that, when I'm the leader in this group or church, this will be the line and you can either talk with me about it or you can leave. And at that point most people will talk to us about it and we can explain ourselves and maintain the relationship. Even if they don't agree, if they see our heart is right they'll follow anyway.

But, if issues go unaddressed, then people come to believe there's no reason to bother talking to the leader, and they start just hijacking the group or gossiping or trying measures that, like punching, end the relationship. They're intended to destroy, and there is no desire for mutual communication. At that point, it becomes hard, if not impossible, to salvage the relationship and not injure the person spiritually as you regain control.

I myself have been affected once by such a person and really had to work hard to overcome the situation. Sigh!! Long story. But I will request everyone to please evaluate every person individually and don't think that the whole group is bad if one person from that group doesn't satisfy you.
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