I am lucky enough to see, hear about, and get involved in many brave and well intentioned attempts to change the workplace. Few of them succeed.
The theory is right, the communications plan impeccable, the deckchairs have been rearranged, but deep down things remain the same.
We hold on tightly to some very deep seated and long held assumptions about authority and our relationship with it. You can change a manager’s job title, you can make him dress down more often than just Fridays, you can even get him to work virtually. But if he still sees himself as in charge of an unruly bunch of miscreants who, if it weren’t for his valiant efforts and ever so carefully designed systems, would run amok, then nothing has changed.
More time and effort has to be spent exploring and questioning our assumptions about the world of work. It needs to be an ongoing process. It’s what I aspire to do with my blog posts. More of us need to do it.
The Obvious? 