Company or cult?
The dividing line between firm and sect is often thin. How to tell them apart
HERE ARE some common characteristics of cults. They have hierarchical structures. They prize charismatic leaders and expect loyalty. They see the world as a hostile place. They have their own jargon, rituals and beliefs. They have a sense of mission. They are stuffed with weirdos. If this sounds a bit familiar, that is because companies share so many of these traits.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Company or cult?”
From the March 5th 2022 edition
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