#188: When good news isn’t
Now that the “R” word is being used freely to describe the state of the economy, be ready to hear some good news from your people.
Yes, I said ‘good news’. Your people understand the most important rule of organizational life: Keep the boss happy. Why? Because you decide on salary increases, bonuses, promotions, and so on.
The kings of old taught us how those in power react to bad news: the bearer lost his head. No wonder we like to pass on good news rather than bad; – to tell the king what we think he wants to hear; – to leave the bad news to someone else; – to let a colleague be the one to lose her job.
The result? The poor boss at the top must make decisions of great import based on a steady stream of good news.
My point? Don’t listen only to what your subordinates tell you. Unless you like only good news.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#187: Paying taxes graciously
How did you pay your taxes last week? Grudgingly or graciously?
Most of my taxes to date have been paid in a so-called developing country, one step up from a third-world country.Let me tell you, based on that experience, I pay my USA taxes with a smile and a ‘thank you’. I know what it feels like to pay taxes without receiving much in return, to pay into a void.Now I pay graciously, because I am pleased with all the benefits I get for my tax dollars - libraries and schools and roads and, amazingly, visible law enforcement.Yes, I know, it’s all about perceptions. Each year of paying US taxes changes my perceptions, because every year another memory of third-world taxation is lost to the non-stop public griping about US taxes.I know when I’ll be ready for US citizenship - when I have learned to pay my taxes grudgingly.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#186: When rich is not wealthy
With so many people feeling financial pain, expect much to be written again about income inequality. Yet, the distribution of wealth is far more unequal.
Income is the flow of money to you; wealth is what you have accumulated.
The latest figures by the World Institute for Development Economics Research (for the year 2000) show that more than half of all wealth is owned by just 2% of the world's adults. This means that for each person with one-thousand-dollars, there are nine with only one dollar each.If you had more than two-thousand-one-hundred-and-sixty-one dollars in the year 2000, you belonged to the wealthier half. Congratulations.But here’s the funny thing: Although many people in poor countries own almost nothing, a lot of people in rich countries have less than nothing: they owe more than they own.So much for income inequality.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#185: Survival of the fittest
The survival of the fittest. That’s what people tell me competition during a recession is all about.
But look at the culture and make-up of the survivors and you have to wonder, “Fittest for what?”As the pressure for profit increases, internal competition hots up. Departments compete on budgets instead of collaborating on resources; employees compete for a place on shrinking teams instead of co-operating; and so on.But what about management? Good question.
Akio Morita, the founder of Sony, once said: “If we face a recession, we should not lay off employees; the company should sacrifice a profit. It is management's risk and management's responsibility. Employees are not guilty; why should they suffer?”But suffer they do, which reminds me of a Polish proverb: Under capitalism man exploits man; under socialism the reverse is true.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#184: Suspicious minds at work
How do you approach you job? Like a marriage or like a casual relationship?
The whole idea with marriage is that we willingly decline all other options. And we announce this decision in public so that everybody knows what our intentions are.That’s how you are supposed to behave when you accept a job.I know it’s a stretch to compare working a job to working a marriage, but in many ways they are similar. In both cases it takes two to party. More importantly, both parties must commit to work at it.
I have not met many people who decide to get married until something better comes along. But I have met many people who approach their jobs that way.Don’t do that. Like marriage, you must put your all into your job. At least while you’re at work. If you don’t, others will notice.
And if they do, don’t blame your boss for having a suspicious mind.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#183: Beating the real competition
Does your company have a “salesperson of the year” award? If so, I’m sorry to hear that.
Let me tell you a story that I hope you’ve heard before.Once upon a time an angry bear stumbled upon two campers. The one camper quickly put on his running shoes. The other one shouted, “You’ll never outrun the bear!” His ‘friend’ replied, “I don’t have to. I only have to outrun you.”Now, tell me, if you want to win the salesperson award, who is your real competition? Yes, your own colleagues. Not the sales people at the rival company.Don’t get me wrong. I like competition. But I don’t like ill-conceived reward systems because anything ill-conceived triggers the law of unintended consequences.A salesperson of the year competition might get you more sales. But it will get you more internal competition and less team work.
Why take the chance? Design something better.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#182: Rolling with the times
What does the saying ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss’ mean to you?
I grew up in a culture where calling someone a rolling stone was an insult. It meant that the person was incapable of holding onto one job for very long.I have always understood that common sayings can have different meanings in different cultures and even across different generations.That’s why I recognize that here in America calling someone a rolling stone could be a compliment. It could mean that you are willing to keep trying different things and different places until you succeed.
But it now seems that ‘willing to’ is being replaced by ‘having to’: The speed at which companies create and destroy jobs mean that you have no option but to be a rolling stone.Fortunately, the Rolling Stones themselves have shown that even aging rolling stones can have ongoing success, if they keep on reinventing themselves.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
