It’s a slippery slope.
In reading of Skiliing’s sentence - I can’t help but think - what would the younger Jeff Skilling (who worked with Tom Peters) think? Would he look at his older self’s crimes and be appalled?
Through the years I’ved watched a number of people slide down the slope. They don’t sell their souls outright. No, they first do one small thing. Then another. Then another. “Attaboy! You dragged that deal home kickin’ and screamin’!” “You’re a killer!” “HOOHA! Big Dogs!” Then, one day they look up (if they’re lucky, and before the law comes knocking) and realize they’ve turned into something they (and their employees) hate.
Power and Hubris are two of the most powerful and dangerous drugs. Money is the least of it - just another way of keeping score. When you can afford a $6,000 shower curtain, you’ve made it baby!
Tags: leadership, power, Skilling
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October 24th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Jeffrey Skilling is my bogeyman. Whenever I feel like letting my kids escape with what, on the surface appears to be a minor ethical transgression, I’m going to remember him. Then I’m going to correct my kids’ behavior.
Regards,
Glenn
October 25th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
What really got me Mary was Skilling’s continued declarations of innocence right up to the time of his sentencing, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. A wise old boss once told me ” a fish stinks from its head down” - and in his case the smell was stifling. All the best.
October 26th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Terry,
The truly tragic thing is that I believe Skilling actually did believe he’d done nothing wrong. It’s that warped “Master of the Universe” perspective. “Since I’m doing it, it can’t be wrong.”
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:40 am
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