#279: Abuse of the P word

We are quick to get angry when CEOs abuse their power and rightly so. But I get even angrier when employees abuse privileges.

Its not easy being a CEO. There is a dark side that others don’t always appreciate. It is the burden of decision making. When you are unsure of what to do, you ask your boss. Or your boss’ boss. Ultimately this delegating upwards ends with the CEO. That’s why it’s lonely at the top.

I work with two CEOs who are feeling a bit lonely. Both have designed their organizations to be flatter, with fewer rules and more freedom. And yet, both have a couple of employees who are abusing these privileges, mainly by slacking off.

Both CEOs now feel that they have failed for not being tough enough.

That’s when I get really angry, when a couple of lazy, immature employees see fit to poison the workplace of adults. And this at a time when even bad jobs are scarce.


I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

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