I warned you. The title was absolutely correct. This piece will not cover friendly ground. You were properly forewarned. Read on or go away if it might offend you. It is your choice, not mine. I am comfortable with it. You have been warned.
Therefore, if you are of the sensitive type, looking at the world through critically adjusted sunglasses, you might quit reading this post right now. This particular post is not aimed at being careful enough to wake up on the politically correct side of the bed. For those who believe everything in the world needs to be more sensitive to all people and all things, you may perfectly excuse yourself from reading anymore of what is to follow. You may want to keep your nose clean. You may go away right now because I am going to write on.
The world of employment has gone overboard to be politically correct. Did you know that? It has.
I know a lot about this subject, I take a lot of notes in the workplace. I also do not worry much about what others think of me. I am solid with who I am and why I do what I do. Has it cost me promotions and support along the way? Well of course it has. Being politically correct does not guarantee success but it will help reduce the challenges you face that destroys good opportunities. That is a certain and 'for sure' statement.
Why write about being politically correct? We all know it exists and we all know it actively runs true in the workplace. Political correctness has a lot of influence regarding elements that come with a lot of the important matters regarding workplace respect. Remaining politically correct is a prudent and clever way to help an employee keep from being overlooked for the next promotion. Trust me on this one. If you know how to keep your nose colored brown you will help your promotional chances. I know that is not politically correct, but it is true. In my book, the truth trumps a politically correct stance. If that is too direct, excuse me. Furthermore, I do not care if it strikes the more-sensitive spots remaining on the skin of someones true character.
We have become very soft as a society. No tough stuff is allowed anymore. Being direct and tough on personal matters looks like bullying, off-colored remarks, insensitive tongues and aggressive behavior. All of these things are no longer allowed to run at all in the current workplace. I happen to respect this approach. I agree that being insensitive is a very wrong thing to perform. It destroys the potential for success in such a quiet way. I do not promote an aggressive and insensitive tongue.
However, sometimes the truth needs to stand taller than the quiet tongue that is trying so hard to remain politically correct. This is where the conflict finds its best debate. Should we permit some 'not-so-politically-correct' positions to enter the workplace if they reveal some unfair and protective management practices? Is there a time when being politically correct can hurt the future integrity of the workplace environment? I say it is true, can happen and does happen more often than we have the courage to reveal.
For the sake of keeping your job, most will remain steadfast to practicing the art of controlling their thoughts and tongue. Most clearly recognize how dangerous it might become to permit their mind and tongue to come out and tell the truth about something being practiced wrong in the workplace that should be exposed. The potential to become a whistle-blower brings with it some very real employment risks. How brown is your nose? How serious do you feel about protecting the status of your job? These are real questions with real consequences.
Let me give you a classic example.
Page two.
In a recent interview for a high level community position I noticed the panel selected to find the right person to hire was hand picked by the head of the commission. I know this stuff. I live in this community and have done business with it for almost 40 years. The leaders, the cliques and the shakers and movers are all easily recognized in this small community. There is no doubt about who drives the boat and who's hands are firmly placed on the community steering wheels. The four-member body selected to perform the interviews are all comfortably placed in their role of power by the one leader who has dominion over their futures.
When I walked into the room, it was a surprise to witness. I did not expect the obvious to be this clear. I sat down in the hot seat with a new and updated mindful level of prepared respect. The land lay was blatant and clear. I am not stupid. The team asking the interview questions was an organized set of one-sided positions...they are people who have come to be known for the color of their nose.
Here comes the classic example. That dominate leader was present in the room during the interviews. That leader kept a very stoic face, a very stout presence and a very domineering influence over the other three participants who were asking some of the important questions during this interview. The room was filled with singular dominance. The ether of that energy was thick. It flowed through the room like a quiet dark cloud. I was a bit amused. Have you ever been in a situation like this? I have and it is very uncomfortable. However, I have also become very experienced at dealing with the controlled nature of these lopsided doings.
Now, here comes the classic question. When that domineering leader stepped out to ask the question he felt might be the most important one of the hiring process, this is the question that leader asked. "How do you respond to a circumstance when your supervisor places you in an uncomfortable or awkward situation?" Then there was silence. My mind quietly said, "What?!" Knowing I was strategically placed into that position right now, I found this question quite amusing.
What kind of question is this, people? These interviewers are sitting in front of a strongly considered applicant who is there to perform the best exposure he/she sees fit in making sure they are continued on as a potential candidate for the job being offered...and the leader of the interviewers asks this question when it is his turn? Let's see? How brown is your nose? Wouldn't that be a more fair question? How brown can you make your nose? I need to know that before I place someone into this job position! Get serious.
We have come to the point in our protected worlds and have quietly gotten all caught up with politically correct measurements. We feel we need to perform them. We have actually done this so well for so long that we have gotten lost in the forest of this foolish game. We are overwhelmed by the 'colored-nose' points we want to make and the supervisors support we so badly need to have happen that we compromise our values to save our incomes. In fact, it is so prevalent and so common that it has come to the table of the interview process. It is blatantly and recklessly exposed long before it has a chance to be managed subversively. We have completely lost sight of the real stuff we need to be doing. Productivity is severely compromised with this kind of process. Productivity will always take a back seat to the things that promote how you change the color of your nose. Always.
If you lead a business and you desire to win big, get more productive. The first step to making that happen in this politically correct driven world is to eliminate the processes you quietly instill that support others to brown up their noses. I can assure you that if you practice these silly things, you have compromised productivity in more ways than you can ever imagine. Your potential volume and your maximum business success will suffer at the hands of this process. Do not fall prey to supporting or subjecting your leadership to honor the browning changes of the noses you employ. It may be manageable in your protective world, but the compromise will hurt your extraordinary potential.
My nose will not turn brown, and in this particular interview...it did not. I was removed from the ascendancy of securing this position. I have since moved on. Protect your values, not the color of your nose. It might cost you on one hand but it will pay handsome dividends on the ones that count the most.
Until next time...
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