Page 35 - The Voice of Authority

“People are our most valuable asset.” (Reality: But we
don’t trust them, train them, or listen to them.)
“Training is a high priority.” (Reality: We just don’t
want to pay for it or allow time off for it.)
“You’ll be better off under the new pay/benefit struc-
ture.” (Reality: The company will be better off, so you
can keep your job a while longer.)

Is it any wonder these organizations find themselves
struggling to restore trust, retain employees, and realize
objectives?

Flashes of Reality about Raymond
Everybody may love Raymond—but they also know when
he’s not pulling his weight. When people see Raymond
goof off and hear that he got the same percentage raise as
they did, they understand that “pay for performance” is a
lie. When they do less than their best on their own proj-
ects and still receive the same praise and perks as every-
one else, they understand that performance reviews have
no basis in reality.
When employees realize that competitions such as Em-
ployee of the Month are restricted with rules that say
awards can’t go to the same person twice, they chalk up
the whole concept as a ploy to get everybody to work a little
harder with no real recognition for those who make a sig-
nificant contribution month after month.

Off-Stage Lying: You, Me, and the Rest of Us

We lose trust when someone lies in our presence—even if
not to us specifically. For example, you overhear your boss

Is It Correct? 23