Most organizations understand that when systems (not just IT systems) aren’t improved or maintained that they entropy.  And so it is with management too.  Just like an untrained or little used muscle . . . management becomes weaker.

Open door policies are a facade to the real attitude of some management hierarchies.  “Tell me any news you want, as long as it is good.  But don’t tell me when things are bad, that would be politically incorrect.”  How management looks can be more important than say being told what the current realities really are.

Many management hierarchies want to protect their culture.  However, the very thing they are trying to protect is what keeps it weak.  The culture is quite often already broken.  Embracing the reality is the first step to making it better.

Telling management the truth about their performance is a tough business.  The best way is to have them see for themselves why the hierarchy is broken.  Barring that, you are left to telling them straight.  Many are afraid because the truth carries with it a risk to the messenger . . . and so fear in the organization, rules culture.

Unchallenged management masks its deficiencies by hiding behind plans and ancient assumptions.  They provide cover, but not improvement.  This leaves entropy to rule the day, system and the culture.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger.

– Friederich Nietzsche

Learning new ways requires perspective and perspective comes from a different view.  When embraced the system finds new and better ways.

Tripp Babbitt is a speaker, blogger and consultant to service industry (private and public).  His organization helps executives find a better way to make the work work.  Read his articles at Quality Digest and his column for CustomermanagementIQ.com.  Learn more about the 95 Method for service organizations.  Reach him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TriBabbittor LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/trippbabbitt.