Truth Gives Way to Power.

Imagine if a worker regularly frustrated the efforts of their boss. Failed to keep their boss informed. Wasted their boss’s time. Didn’t give the boss what the boss needed to make decisions. Only told their boss enough information the worker decided the boss needed to know. Treated their boss like a child.

I suspect the worker would rightly be told to pack their bags and sent on their way. Such worker behaviour does not lead to a productive and harmonious workplace. It’s unfair on the boss, the workers, the clients, and anyone relying on the organisation.

Why is it that it’s okay for a boss to frustrate their workers? Not keep their workers informed? Waste their workers’ time with pointless meetings? Withhold information the boss doesn’t think the worker needs to know? Treat workers like a child?

This boss behaviour does not lead to a productive and harmonious workplace. It’s unfair on the worker, other bosses, clients, and anyone relying on the organisation.

The boss would rightly frame the worker’s behaviour as insubordinate, disruptive, unprofessional, disrespectful. The boss would leverage the resources of HR, lawyers, and other experts to address the worker’s behaviour. The boss would not pay for this expertise, and the toll on their time and wellbeing would be minimal.

The worker has limited access to resources to redress the boss’s detrimental affect on the worker’s productivity and wellbeing. They are outgunned. The boss’s behaviour affects the worker’s entire life, and the life of their family.

The only reason a boss get away with what a worker cannot - is positional power. Nothing more.

Truth gives way to power.