Now and again you encounter the "closed mind" culture. It's usually found 'neath the shallow cover of the "my door is always open" culture.
I too have been employed by blinkered organisations who are threatened by ideas and opinions which emanate from non managerial quarters. You become accustomed to that sense of foreboding which means not only has your card been marked, but dipped in one coat-vandal proof-irremovable Hammerite. You could run the organisation better than they do. Incidentally, I make no apology for using the language of the polemicist. It's you and them.
A company with any semblance of gumption will actively harness the insight of intuitive and progressive staff. Not this one; the head of department feels undermined by every upstart fibre of your insolent being. You want the best for the business and the best for you?
If you don't like it, leave.
Is it actually possible in this day and age people are still being told that?
Well, not only is it happening, the threats industry is positively burgeoning. Invariably, weak senior management will draft in ( and I'm sorry for using the C word ) a consultant. I'm genuinely saddened by the interlopers, brigands and con men passing themselves off as consultants. Their oleaginous modus operandi is to window dress the message with gentle and encouraging words like "team", "collective" and "cohesion". If you're really lucky, they may even call upon the unbridled power of the flip chart and place a triangle inside a circle.
I'm afraid all the euphemisms in the handbook couldn't prevent one fat-headed fellow from showing his true colours to one particularly hard-pressed set of underpaid individuals.
" We're a team with a common purpose ", he told them, preferring the all encompassing "team" as he could never bring himself to shake the hand of anyone sub board level.
" And if anyone doesn't like their job; get up and leave now. " Quite a guy eh?
A room may be an inanimate space, but I think even it squirmed. Brick dust was seen to cascade. It's remarkable what sparks off a blog topic; one of the forthcoming episodes of Waiting For Death http://www.wonkanaproductions.com/waitingfordeath.php
deals beautifully with the foibles of the workplace.
And if you don't like it, you know where the door is.
