Painting the Pinto

Painting a Pinto does not change the fact that it is a Pinto!

I doubt that I am the first to say this, and dare not profess that the profundity of this pithy is an original. I do say, however, that the effects of this practice – painting the Pinto that is -- on business can be devastating if applied as a rule of thumb.

Hear me folks! I am speaking from experience here.

It is egregious when leadership of an organization consistently ignores the pink elephants in their organization, choosing instead to use haphazard management techniques that in no way resemble qualified management models. This incompetent, lackadaisical approach to management is further exacerbated when leadership invokes policy and procedure when it suits them, eschewing these articles of guidance at all other times. Leadership and management cannot be intermittent in their execution, showing up only when those who are charged to execute the inherent duties of such entrusted positions are exposed and vulnerable; more specifically, leadership that looks for culpability in every other nook and cranny in their organization, accepting none of the responsibility or accountability themselves, is guilty of what is tantamount to criminal negligence in the fiduciary duties charged to them.

Shameful!

A work environment that employs leadership that is guilty of poor work ethics, contextual incompetence, and apathetic, cowardly management is toxic. Further, an organization that takes an autocratic approach to decision making, choosing to continually thumb their noses at the staff by blatantly taking actions that are incongruent with professionalism, ethics and decorum is malignant in every aspect. To abrogate those tenets of business that ensure decisions are equitable and prudent when it is convenient to those charged with making decisions is reprehensible. Nepotism and cronyism are despicable at any level; yet when practiced by those at the upper echelons of leadership, the caustic effect it has on an organization is prolific, devastating.

There are many organizations today that are afflicted with such inept leadership. And for those organizations that are and have been mired in such incompetence for a protracted period, such systemic failure is likely perpetuated by similar actions and philosophies practiced and held by higher governing authorities. Logically, if an organization has a history of systemic failures for a prolonged period, where turnover in most levels of staffing is evident, these failures are an indictment of leadership -- not the staff. Shuffling the deck to solve staffing issues is inane. Moving a problem from one area to another and never having the courage to address and arrest incompetence and insolence is vexing and demoralizing to the good staff. And an organization that is managed this way is pregnant with an apoplectic, apathetic, despondent labor force, clawing at the doors to escape the debacle at any cost and by any means.

Unfortunately, it is evident in general conversations that there are many organizations abound who are stuck in the maelstrom of fractured leadership and management which continue to proliferate despite their failures – the Hydras of business if you will. Mediocrity begets mediocrity in these situations because poor leaders and managers promote others who assimilate to their asinine methods. This is a self-preservation mechanism used by pathetic leaders and managers to ensure they are not challenged at any level and, thus, perpetuates a disastrous carousel of incompetent, hapless leaders and managers, demoralizing the organization and the competent staff who actually take the time to care.

What is most disturbing in all of this is the fact that many of these leadership situations tend to have a long shelf life. That is, once entrenched leaders who fail to use integrity, equity, and due diligence are firmly seated they are able to proliferate their incompetence by surrounding themselves with an army of minions who choose to be complicit, reaping what benefits they can instead of relying on principles and standards that undermine the ineptness of such leadership, stripping the new coat of paint away exposing the Pinto for what it is.   

S. McGill

One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it.  "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?