76 REFLECTIONS ON CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP
Box 3.2 Strategies for Managing Alexithymic Staff- We can move people into jobs that highlight their strengths. While
this intervention applies whether the alexithymia is primary or
secondary, it is restricted to lower - level employees rather than
more senior executives — who have to do more people manage-
ment. While we certainly don ’ t want to include them in high -
performance teams or in people management positions, there
may be a place for them in jobs where emotional management
is secondary. Every company has at least a few positions where
a detail - oriented, mechanical approach is helpful and people
contact is minimal — certain positions in data processing, for
example. - Corporate cultures that encourage alexithymic - like behavior can be
changed. If people exhibiting alexithymic - like behavior join an
organization after a stint with a fi rm that has a repressive emo-
tional company culture, they can be ‘ cured. ’ It is an uphill battle,
however, if the current organization is itself repressive, rewarding
emotionless interaction. In such situations, senior executives
(most likely coming from the outside) play an important part by
providing an alternative role model. They can validate and
encourage the expression of emotion, facilitating fun and creativ-
ity as well as allowing people to deal with anger and dissatisfac-
tion. If the senior executives are convincing — that is, if employees
believe that emotional expressiveness will no longer have nega-
tive consequences, that it is an important part of effective work
behavior — they may inspire other executives and employees to
rise to the occasion. - We can attempt to help secondary alexithymics become better at dealing
with emotional issues. We can team them with colleagues who
have a more expressive disposition, assisting the former to
become more daring with their emotions. Although change will
take considerable effort — these patterns may be deeply rooted — it
can be achieved. Alexithymics can discover the emotional poten-
the etiology seems to be associated with genetic neurophysiological or
anatomical defi cits) or secondary alexithymia (where developmental or
socio - cultural factors play a greater role). The ideas given in Box 3.2
may be helpful.