Management tolerance produces unproductive and demotivated, unproductive employees
Much of the attitudinal and behavioral dysfunction on shop floors and in our offices is the consequence of conditioning. Prior to the 60’s, societal discipline came from a code of ethics framed by the constitution—we were a nation of laws. I believe that our historical conformance to the “rule of the law” is being overshadowed by what progressive legislators and judges refer to as a defense of ‘civil liberties”. Subsequently, collective entitlement—not personal responsibility has become a priority
The consequence of relaxed societal standards has been; increased drug abuse, more children born out of wedlock, abortion normalized as a means of birth control, an epidemic of fatherless families, kids joining gangs, criminals receiving lenient sentences, and a dependency-creating welfare state that has become a multi-generation way of life. Our tolerant society is also spawning too many unproductive and uncaring employees.
Robert Bly’s book, The Sibling Society, suggests that the swinging 60’s is the direct cause of a large percentage of today’s population being stalled in a perennial state of adolescence. Mothers and fathers want to be friends rather than parent their children. We have drifted towards a Peter Pan type of Never Never Land-where nobody has to grow up. In 1900 people were expected to mature after childhood. The forgiving status of ‘teenager’ was nonexistent. Too many adults have been conditioned to avoid taking personal responsibility. They expect the state take care of them.
History validates that productive cultures come from having a shared vision of the preferred future, and rigidly enforcing declared behavioral boundaries with predictable consequences. Many CEOs believe that corporate values are what has been word-crafted and hung on their walls. A company’s values are indicated by what executives tolerate—not by what they say. An ancient writing supports the premise that productive cultures balance the inspiration of Vision and the application of Discipline:
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision the people perish; but he who keepeth the law, happy is he.