Rick
Agreed. I also should have said the boss causes behavior not necessarily a
change in the person and even more unlikely a change in the person's
underlying values. You describe some of the directions the behavior can
take as a results of the boss's priorities.
et
At 11:16 AM 11/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>Rick asked:
>>>Can one person determine what another person is to hold as belief? And, if
>>>so, is it ethical to do so?
>
>Gene replied:
>>You bet. The boss determines what people believe is important to the
>>organization and to their own success. He or She do it whether or not they
>>know or have expressed their own beliefs.
>>
>>They do it by way of the questions asked and the agendas established.
>...snip...
>>
>>The saddest part about it is that the boss can be completely unconscious
>>of this power and it still happens. There are of course exceptions. Some
>>people leave, some complain but most never question the priorities set by
>>the official leaders for their mind or time.
>...snip...
>
>Gene, I think we should draw a distinction on whether the boss is in
>control of this process, that is, whether the boss is the the more or less
>sole determinant of the outcome (whether the boss is conscious of this or
>not).
>
>I think the boss does not determine, in two respects:
>
> 1) The boss is part of the system and is affected by it. The boss's
>actions are determined in part by the interaction with others. The young
>peopple push the boss one way, the old timers another way, problems at
>home have another effect, and the boss does something. Over time, the boss
>and the org culture are affected by the people. Boss, non-bosses, the
>culture, and the connected world all evolve together.
>
> 2) I think the boss's actions, thought powerful, don't determine the
>response of the people. People might buy in, as desired. They might
>stonewall. They might comply, but not believe any of it for a minute! They
>might rebel. And, of course they do quit when things get too far out of
>alignment.
>
>I think when people are part of the system, no one party can reliably
>determine the outcome of the interactions. I think it's a different
>mindset, different mental model, that might result in better mental health
>for the bosses and more exciting, creative organizations.
>
> -- Rick
Eugene Taurman
interLinx ilx@execpc.com http://www.execpc.com/~ilx
What you are is determined by the thoughts that dominate your mind.
Paraphrase of Proverbs Ch 23 vs 7 KJV
--Eugene Taurman <ilx@execpc.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>