Business success: the Crab in the bucket syndrome

Support is an amazing thing when you have it. Lack of support, or people who are bent on keeping you where you are, can cripple you. It is called the Crab in the Bucket syndrome.

If you were to go with a bucket to the beach to catch crabs, you will need a lid for the first two you catch, as they will try climb out. Once you catch your third crab, however, you will not need the lid. Strange as it may seem, once there are three or more crabs, the others will pull it back if one tries to climb out.

This dynamic can be seen in our relationships quite clearly. Some relationships are supportive of our desire to change while others would rather we stay as we are rather than shake things up. The fear of those holding you back is often that if you can change then so could they.

Are you a crab or do you support your friends/colleagues?
Do they support you or pull you back?

Remember the crab in the bucket syndrome when it comes to change

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Richard Riche

Change Communication and Employee Engagement specialist at One Clear Message Consulting

Richard specialises in helping you build real human communication skills. Employee Engagement / Experience, Emotional Intelligence skills, building high performance teams and a great place you want to work. TED style speaking and presentation skills. Training, consulting and coaching.

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Latest posts by Richard Riche (see all)

• Harnessing the power of psychological safety at work - 2 January 2019
• 5 keys to creating sustainable continuous improvement - 19 November 2018
• Using organisational voice to support Change Communication - 28 September 2018