The Challenge of Creating a Professional Culture
Individualism is on the rise in America. It has always shaped the American ethos, giving Americans the values of personal autonomy, ambition, and liberty. Collectivist societies, on the other hand, emphasize social harmony and interdependence, which sometimes leads to the belief that the good of the group outweighs the needs of individuals. As such, individualism, and the values that it reinforces, allows for diversity within a community and an organization.
However, if the focus on individualism erodes our sense of community—and the rise of individualism in America has done just...