Can we manage without the outdated rhetoric?
Alex Pollock
April 29, 2010
Yet as we bring our bodies and brains to work each day we often shake our heads with frustration and bewilderment as we observe high sounding corporate principles that bear no resemblance to day-to-day management practices. I read a statement recently that said it better than I could: "There is something going on today in our companies that depletes the natural resilience and creativity of human beings.”
What can we do in the EHS community to reverse this situation for our colleagues and reduce the gaps between rhetoric and reality? What are those misguided beliefs that we’ve grown up with? What are the beliefs are we creating that the next generation will likely abandon?
Some that come to my mind are:
- Change starts at the top
- It takes crisis to trigger a paradigm shift
- Leaders get appointed and perform because on their relationship with those “above” them
- Leaders must be served
- Career advancement means promotion every few years
- Titles matter
- Forced ranking systems keep organizations refreshed
- Annual “performance” awards keep people motivated
- Competency profiles are necessary to get people fitting their job
- Failure is bad for you
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About the Author
Alex Pollock
The Dow Chemical Company
Alex Pollock has been studying leadership effectiveness for more than 30 years. A former leader in environment, health and safety, and public affairs at The Dow Chemical Co., he learned that we all have leadership roles to play. He enjoys discussing new ideas and sharing practical ways we can all become better leaders.