Hurdled or Trampled?

I’ve been trying really hard not to speak up too much at work.  I’m always the guy who states the obvious.  Especially when everyone else  seems to be pretending not to see it.

Our boss is an intimidating guy who chooses to rule by keeping everyone in the dark and just slightly afraid.  My theory is that this works for him because people who are scared tend not to rock the  boat.  On his desk is a little plaque that reads “Trample the weak, Hurdle the dead”.  It’s a fine motto if you’re running from a zombie army, but not so keen if you are managing actual people.

Anyway … I’m not intimidated.  It’s not that I don’t have anything to lose, because I really do need this job.  I just really have a hard time with the whole “because I said so” crap.  I’m not alone either.  My peers confide in me frequently about their feelings.  Perhaps they are counting on me to speak for them.  I don’t know.

We are in the midst of a rollout for a new management plan.  It’s really the same old business as usual, but with a new facade.  Lipstick and pigs … you get the idea.  For weeks now we have been meeting and discussing how to gain buy-in at the front line level and we consistently fall short.

The boss was questioning why we are unable to succeed and people were throwing out excuses and grasping at ideas when I finally spoke up and said, “I guess I will just be frank.”  Everyone got quiet, knowing something dangerous was about to come out of my mouth.  ”I don’t think we should ask for a show of hands here, but I know for certain that many people in this room are not at the buy-in stage concerning this plan.  I don’t know how we can sell this to our staff if you can’t sell it to us.”

Can you hear the crickets?

I noticed a few nods around the room, but as usual no one spoke up.  The boss simply nodded his head and moved on.  I know that he knows I’m right.  He’s not used to people having the balls to tell him the truth though.  I’m guessing that I will be hurdled, not trampled.  Given the choice, I would rather be hurdled.

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