Cults, Corporate Culture And The Clever Ladies....
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It started with an intriguing conversation with a good friend. We were discussing her workplace and she calmly mentioning a few situations that left her feeling slightly unsettled. Being very analytic and observant by nature, my friend suddenly made an interesting comparison between her employer and a cult.
Her comment didn't really shock me. It's not the first time someone has
made such a suggestion to me and to be honest, it's a concept that had
crossed my mind in the past. Considering we live in a world where large
corporations are often more about their image (or rather, the image they
want to project) than sincerity, it's not at all surprising that
attempting to manipulate encourage employees to play the game.
Come on, we've all seen it - the ambiguous company mantra, the
ridiculous corporate cheers that are just plain silly and of course, the
'our way or the highway' mentality that is force fed in the name of
'team player' - in fact, these things have become such a 'normal' part
of the corporate culture, that many people mindlessly follow without
ever questioning the benefits of such rituals. I mean, should we have to
be told to work well together? Didn't we learn that in kindergarten?
In comparison, cults are lead by charismatic individuals who expect
their followers to demonstrate obedience, unquestioning commitment and
loyalty - oh, and sometimes drink funky Kool-Aid and chant funny
mantras. Oh wait, mantras?
Then again, is that really such a rarity? Don't we all know people who
mindlessly follow others, never questioning whether they are right or
wrong? Let's face it, some people have very strong personalities and can
easily persuade others of their beliefs, regardless of how ridiculous
or far fetched they may be. We've seen it in powerful people such as
politicians and CEOs or even in our everyday lives, in the form of
family members and sometimes intimate relationships. As for followers,
they tend to have more passive personalities or perhaps they are simply
someone who gets swept away by a more energetic personality.
I've always been pretty direct regarding my beliefs, even during times when it wasn't a very popular to do so. I never really understood people who weren't aware of what was going on around them, weren't interested in current events or don't bother to ask questions. In fact, it's actually kind of scary.
On the other hand, I love talking to people who are knowledgeable, are
open and optimistic. It just makes for a very invigorating conversation
even when I don't agree with them. If I had a business, I would love
employees with diverse ideas and opinions. On the other hand, if I was a
cult leader, these same things would probably not be so appealing to
me.
My friend that compared her workplace to a cult felt that it was best to
stay under the radar. It seemed like a better alternative than to
question any of the forced encouraged team building
activities, the 'values' that were constantly reaffirmed or any other
daily BS. She didn't want to be a leader or a follower, but instead
chose to sit back and watch the well orchestrated dance - and giggle at
the absurdity of it all.
Perhaps that makes her the most clever person I know.
By: Michelle Arsenault
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