Is it ever beneficial to intentionally send the wrong message? That’s the question that drives the conversation when Richard Bistrong, Ron Carucci, and Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP® join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.
Here is our topic: Earlier this summer, a CEO and tech entrepreneur named Rob Dance ignited a firestorm on Twitter with a post titled: “Things I’m sick of hearing from my employees.” His list included: Can I leave early today? I’ll be in late this morning. My child is sick, can I rush off? I’ve got a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, is that okay? I’m going to be late back from lunch, I’ve got some things to sort.
He concludes with this pithy, editorial remark: I don’t care. Not surprisingly, the post attracted a barrage of critics, decrying his insensitivity and calling him a variety of colorful names. To which he replied with a short question: Did you finish reading the whole post? Because he concludes with these comments: “I hired you for a job and I fully TRUST you to get it done. I don’t need you to account for every single hour. Times have changed, and the workplace is different these days. People are sick of being treated like children. “All that should matter is that everyone is happy, and that the work gets done. My advice to companies: Treat your staff like adults. That’s it, that’s the big secret. Give them autonomy, respect that they have lives outside of work, don’t gaslight them into being grateful for not being fired every day. Output should always trump hours.”
One of my mantras is that Trust is the T in ETHICS. But is it wise to trust that readers will make it to the end of a provocative post and not miss the twist at the end? Does this style come across as snarky or refreshingly candid? Is it worth the risk of being misunderstood to make a critical point? And aside from style, is Rob Dance’s advice practical in a culture where so many employers complain about workers slacking off and shirking their responsibilities? And if it is, why does it seem to be so rare?
Richard Bistrong is CEO of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, LLC, assisting organizations with ethics, compliance, and anti-bribery challenges to help surface unknowns and shine a light on the real-world importance of operationalizing ethics & integrity.
Ron Carucci is the owner and managing partner of Navelent, helping organizations articulate a strategy for success, translate that strategy into results, and develop exceptional leaders along the way.
Heather Younger is a Certified Speaking Professional and LinkedIn Learning instructor. She is also CEO and founder of Employee Fanatix, helping equip companies and organizations with the intelligence they need to improve the quality of work life for their employees.
The thought arising listening to this discussion was that it says nowhere that the employees didn’t already know this message. I don’t think his direct audience of the message is in the company.
But it could be like when nations conduct internal politics through their actions in the state department. The employees may be in on the joke and applaud him “sticking it” to the dinosaurs.
It may still be counter-productive when it comes to the profile he wants to draw in public – and it may be totally conscious and planned.