Dress One Trouser Leg at a Time.

“The empire created the emperors."

- Dame Mary Beard

Whenever a scandal or crisis involves an organisation, the top boss is trotted out to address the media or otherwise signal accountability and appease the mob.

If the CEO, or board chair, or minister is silent, the petulant media demands to know why. The longer the silence continues, the louder the calls for ‘accountability’ grow. It becomes almost personal. Like a scorned lover stalking their ex - ‘the public’ - aka the media demand ‘answers’ - aka - advertising dollars. The story moves to page one.

Eventually somebody utters ‘cover up’ and we’re off.

Who really thinks the minister, board chair, or chief executive knows the reason why something went wrong, let alone can fix it? Why a tired and overworked minimum wage earner overlooked a checklist item or a long-neglected piece of kit finally failed?

Like children, we need to believe in the Old Man with the Long White Beard.

We cling to the Great (Wo)Man Theory of organisations.

We endow the CEO with super powers. Same with our boss, as if they don’t put their trousers on one leg at a time. Be respectful, but never subservient.

Because, like the Emperors, with rare exceptions it’s not the boss who made our workplace or organisation great. It’s you, and the person before you. (And if your workplace is not so great … then …?)

The boss should remember that, and act with due humility.