Don’t get hypnotized by the “Soda Pop” effect

I have to admit something. I’ve already seen K Pop Demon Hunters twice. And yes, I’m fully aware that makes me sound like a teenage superfan. But it’s not just catchy songs and over-the-top battles that pulled me in. There’s a subtle message in the movie that I think is worth paying attention to.

In the story, demons use music to hypnotize people, basically desensitizing them to what’s happening around them. At first, the demons appear cute, fun, and harmless, singing bubblegum tracks like “Soda Pop.” But by the end, when they show up in their true demonic form, nobody cares. The audience just assumes it’s part of the act. They’re so desensitized they can’t see the danger right in front of them.

So, what does this have to do with your business?

Here’s a saying I use often: When people show you who they are, believe them.

Too many times in offices I visit, I see leaders ignoring warning signs in their team members. Little things like chronic lateness, frequent “sick” Mondays, or subtle insubordination get brushed aside because, well, “she’s really good clinically” or “he brings in a lot of sales.” Leaders justify keeping problem people around because one strength seems to outweigh everything else.

But those warning signs don’t disappear. They grow. They cause division, they frustrate your team, and eventually, you’re left scrambling when that person either quits or leaves behind a mess that drags everyone down.

Just recently I worked with a doctor who had one employee stirring up constant drama. She wasn’t in a leadership role, but she was undermining those who were. I told the doctor and office manager, “She’s on her way out, and she’s causing damage you don’t want to admit to.” The doctor defended her, saying she was just misunderstood. Four weeks later, I got the call. She quit. Exactly as predicted.

Here’s the takeaway. Don’t let yourself be desensitized by convenience or comfort. Yes, see the good in your people. Yes, give grace. But don’t ignore the truth that’s right in front of you. Address the behavior. Correct it. Or sometimes, love that person into another job where their attitude fits better.

Because the last thing you want is to be so mesmerized by someone’s “Soda Pop” performance that you don’t notice the damage they’re doing to the bigger show.

Proactive, Productive, and Profitable,

Dino