Martini Musing - We, They, Us, Who?
I was recently doing some interviews for a client planning project and the topic of employee management came up. I noted that I personally never, ever wanted to “manage people” again. Well! We were off on a passionate tangent! “Yeah, they want us to be accountable but what about them?”
Yes, administrations, bosses, employees, and big ol’ companies can be incompetent, whiney, toxic, bad, and downright evil. But accountability should go both ways, if we’re ever going to really change anything - from government policies to cell phone service.
If we/they don’t vote, we/they just abdicated any say in what happens. Sure, it may be a case of the “lesser of two evils” but it’s the lesser!
If we/they don’t speak up, we/they can expect to - at best - be ignored…for consideration, service, promotions and raises.
If we/they don’t act with integrity, we/they can’t expect to be treated fairly.
If we/they don’t communicate, we/they can’t expect a response.
If we/they don’t care, who will?
(Side note: It’s “pursuit” of happiness not “entitled to.”)
Y’all have a great long weekend! I’ll be recovering from some oral surgery (At least I’ve got an excellent reason to eat all the home-made ice cream!)
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September 3rd, 2007 at 4:48 am
So right, Mary! Managers should feel free to pay no unnecessary attention to their employees’ performance, or physical or emotional well-being for that matter, until those miserable peons learn to walk upright, “grow a pair,” and ask for what they deserve! Squeaky wheel and all that. Am I right?
September 4th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Jeff,
I think you may have missed my point - what I’m saying here is that none of us can abdicate responsibility for our own well-being and that of our world.
We all need to “grow a pair” - and use our brains. We is They, They is Us, etc.
And, the reason I personally never want to “manage people” again - aside from the fact I don’t think people should be “managed” - is that it’s incredibly hard work to be a good “boss.” True leadership is an art, not something you can pick up in a quick fly-by of the latest ghost-written CEO tome.