HRGuru

Sexual Politics: What do you think?

(Read the article: http://www.hrguru.com/news/842-sexual-politics)

STUDY FINDS YOU REALLY DON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE

In Grand Scheme of Things, Your Hard Work, Diligence, Found to Mean Squat

London, England (SatireWire.com) — In an unprecedented study, British and American researchers have concluded that despite what you've been told at work, you really don't make a difference, and are not remotely integral to your company's success.

"In our research, we found that you've been encouraged to believe that your hard work and contributions are substantial, and that you are a significant member of the team. But what we discovered is that in your particular case, there's no way," said Neil Romsby of the London School of Economics.

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In the study, jointly conducted by the LSE and Stanford University's Business School, researchers interviewed your superiors and colleagues, and uncovered a variety of slogans meant to boost employees' sense of worth, such as "Our employees are our greatest asset," and, "Our value is in our employees."

"We're not necessarily saying these platitudes are all lies," said Stanford economics professor Harold Bloom. "We're just saying they have nothing to do with you."

"That may seem sad," Bloom noted, "but it's actually rather funny because your situation is quite obvious to everyone else."

Romsby added that it's also ironic. "When you tell your boss he is doing a good job, you know you are lying, but when your boss tells you the same thing, you actually believe it. That's priceless."

Romsby cautions you, however, not to assume you are simply a meaningless number to your company. "No, that's not a fair comparison," he said, "because numbers are actually quite meaningful to your company. Unlike you."

Researchers concede the study may be difficult to accept — even though your colleagues insist it shouldn't really be a surprise — but suggest you begin by substituting the word meaningless for important whenever your boss or colleagues speak to you. For example: "Diane, this is a really meaningless project and I think you can make some meaningless contributions as a meaningless member of the team." Once you feel comfortable with that, Bloom added, substitute the word "shitty" for "meaningless," and you'll have a pretty good sense of where you stand.

In another finding, researchers also learned that contrary to your company's public relations claims, your company is not really "creating the future" or "improving people's lives." This, Romsby explained, is actually good news for you.

"By failing to make a difference at a place that also doesn't make a difference, at least you're not really hurting anybody," he said.

In other research findings:

¤ When your company says "Great companies are made by great employees," they aren't talking about you.

¤ When your company insists that "Each employee makes a special contribution," that's not you either, unless you consider having your head up your ass half the day as "special."

¤ When your company discusses its relatively low turnover rate, it wouldn't mind if it went up another point, if you catch our empirical drift.

¤ Your deep-seated fear of being revealed as a fraud who doesn't really deserve the job you have is unfounded. Everybody knows.

Copyright © 2001-2004, SatireWire.

Nothing to be sorry for!   That post was a hoot.  

I admit my sentiments on this article may be dour and not complimentary, but I believe the sexual politics article is excellent in bringing forth topics that need discussion. 

Political correctness has had an adverse impact on true dialogue.  Because everyone is so afraid of saying something that someone might object to, many people stop talking (blogging, emailing, etc.).   They become afraid of having a personal viewpoint or opinion.   As everyone tries to meld into the same type of "borg-thought" everyone becomes less satisfied and more disgruntled because of the lack of expression and the inability to make progress on important issues.

Let me give an example:  In America, we don't discuss politics.  We tell other people what we feel they should think.  If they don't agree with your viewpoint, then you can't continue talking to them.  They're either a right-winged fanatic or a left-winged liberal radical or some other such garbage nickname.   It's an either or type of situation and there's no real discussion held and certainly not a dialogue.    And if two parties have a short discussion and nobody changes his point of view then the two generally never speak again, especially about politics.

In my travels in South America I was refreshed about the true dialogue that goes on about politics.  People listen to each other and people talk facts and opinions and if nobody changes their mind, nobody is offended.   As an American in a foreign country I was surprised at how many people I made friends with, even though they may not like our government or it's actions, they valued me as a person (most of the time.)   Here, it seems you either have friends of mainly one political party and not the other instead of having a wonderful mix of friends with "no political filter."   I can't support that with any research, it's just my opinion and maybe it's different for folks younger than me, hopefully so.

But in the work place real solutions require real dialogue and the ability to talk about the most difficult situations in true honesty, not with all the rose colored filters in place.

Perhaps my initial comments spoiled the forum, I hope not.  The article brings forth the concept that many people don't beleive we've made enough progress on these issues and it brings forth the concept that perhaps an equally large number of people believe we've had too darn much of it.    Ergo, the problem isn't solved yet.  So how do we try to bring closure around these issues?