Deceit or Blindness?

by Brandon Jubar

Two weeks ago I was "separated" by the company I've worked at for over 11 years. Now, before you go and get all worried, let me assure you that it was a mutually agreeable parting of ways. Without going into all the details, my leaving saved someone else's job -- someone who wanted to stay. Also, I had been working on several other options, and it was time to move on.

However, that's actually not what I'm thinking about right now. What's bothering me is something that happened after I left. Of course, it was related to something that I did, which is why I heard about it, and it made me shake my head in disgust. Let me explain...

Every month, my coworkers and I were required to update a 1-page report that captured our key metrics, action items, and accomplishments. These reports were uploaded to a shared website accessible by management and the entire team, and they were printed out and displayed prominently on managers' walls. We were told time and time again how important these reports were, so we continued to update them month after month.

However, what I started to notice was that I was always being asked questions that people could easily answer themselves if they'd look at the report! So I started to wonder if any of the managers were actually reading them. We'd get in trouble if the reports weren't uploaded on time, by golly, but it didn't seem like anyone was really reviewing the information. So, being the inquisitive guy that I am, I decided to try a little experiment.

On my October report, I put a new number one action item: Determine if anyone actually reads these reports.

Nobody commented on it, so I did the same thing on the November report.

Still nobody commented on it, so just before I left, I completed the December report and tried it again.

Guess what? Somebody finally noticed! Of course, the only reason was because the big boss was coming for a visit. The Global Director was going to be spending a few days surveying the operations, so the managers were finally looking at the monthly reports to make sure that their teams were actually doing what they're supposed to do.

I was already "separated" by that time, but I heard from a friend who still works there that the Regional Manager "got my message". He went on to say that my former manager then chewed out the team and lectured them on how important the reports really are. And that's what really made me shake my head in disgust!

If those reports are so important, then why didn't my former manager notice my "action item"? And why did it take the Regional Manager, who is a very good friend of mine, 3 months to notice it and bring it to my former manager's attention? And what's ironic is that the managers lectured the team when they should have been lecturing themselves! Remember -- the team has been filling out the reports month after month without fail, allegedly so that the managers could easily keep up-to-date on how the team is doing. The team has been doing their part, but they ended up getting chewed out!

As a Christian and an ethical person, it's hard for me to understand why the managers didn't just admit that they were wrong. Why couldn't they just admit that they should have been fully reviewing the reports but they hadn't been? And what's more, why won't anyone be surprised when they read this editorial?

Is it pride that kept them from admitting they were wrong? Were they knowingly placing blame elsewhere, or do they truly believe that they were not at fault?

Come to think of it, I don't know which is worse -- deceit or blindness.

Peace,
~Brandon