We share an interest in this :)

If only it were always as easy to distinguish good from evil as experiments or history show us. The submissiveness of subordinates to their authorities is something that does not always happen consciously. In the various jobs I have worked through in my life, I have come to know premature obedience from people who have a quite surprising statement for me: If people orient themselves by an authoritative style of leadership and do not realize that they are doing so because they are afraid that they might be convicted of disobedience, it is probably a kind of habit.

I had a colleague who became famous for walking through the offices and corridors looking for things that weren't right. And every time she found something, she ordered her subordinates to tidy up or do a job that would not necessarily have required a job. This colleague was thoroughly disagreeable to me, and I found everything about her repulsive: her way of dressing, her vocal pitch with which she gave her instructions, her pettiness and pedantry towards other people, and in particular her conviction that people need her leadership who "cannot do it alone" or "are socially disadvantaged". From my point of view, she had unquestioningly adopted the worst sides of a leadership style she had known for years, which produced the worst of all human qualities: obedience without having been asked for it.

I wondered why I liked this woman so little. And I think it is now that I have read this article from you that I recognize myself in this woman. Whenever I observe others spreading an atmosphere of obedience, I feel reminded of having done just that. This part of me who feels uncomfortable when he is lazy at work, i.e. does not do an important job, is on guard against those who might notice such things and react negatively to them.

So my deep dislike is essentially not for this woman, but reminds me that I am ashamed to have shown similar behaviour. It is actually a good indicator because it prevents me from devaluing colleagues who have learned nothing else or who have not made themselves aware of it. Instead of defending myself against them, I can practice friendliness. Which is quite a difficult thing when you don't like someone. The true defense against evil in others is unconditional compassion for their shortcomings.

In order to help something like a Nazi regime to succeed, enough people have to be used to obeying for a long time and this comes to bear as soon as the situation becomes more extreme and the livelihood of people threatens or seems to become precarious and insecure. How quickly you become an adapted person yourself can be seen very clearly in extreme times. But if you take a closer look, you can also see it in times that are not marked by it.

The potential is always there, that's right:

Such findings consequently led Milgram to suggest that it is not so much who a person is that will determine their actions, but rather where they are and who they are with.

Every moment is important when you decide who you want to be. The question to yourself could be: For example, as what do I want to go down in the history of a company? How should people think of me or talk about me when I think ten years into the future? Which narrative do I want to choose or construct as ideal?