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WHY DO MANAGERS LIE TO THEIR STAFF?

This is a major issue with me. I've worked for many differentinternational organizations all over the world, having spentnearly of my working life in Africa, I learnt to be veryweary of African Businessmen and never trust them withword of mouth deals; even written contracts are ignored.

This is why Africa has the reputation of being so corrupt.

During my study years back in the 50s/60s it wasstereotyping the French or Italians as liars? However I have

now returned to the UK (2005), maybe I am just unluckyhaving to work with various British organizations in the pastseven years, but in most cases the British Managers tell lotsof lies. Why I ask...?

When I ask co-workers why they lie, I am told in the majorityof cases it is because of all the cosmopolitanism (ormulticulturalism) now in the UK. Some say it is peer pressureand others say it is plain greed for want (as is the case in

Africa).

Personally I think it is because we; the average Mr and Mrs Worker aren't as high up thechain and they presume we are stupid? If that is the case then I got a big problem becausein most cases, I am smarter than they are by leaps and bounds. Most managers don't hold acandle to half their staff in the brains department. I have, in the last seven years, workedalong side of people border level geniuses that wait tables, answer phones, work in coffeehouses, or are bartenders. All while the people in charge of them couldn't answer a simplemath problem like 2x6(0x16)+9 =? Or who Isaac Newton was or how many oceans there areand their names? This knowledge doesn't make you a genius, but it proves you can learnand you retain knowledge.

Now if managers think leading by misdirection is good then they are now adding to theirignorance. Telling us what we might like to hear instead of the truth is still lying. If wearen't going to be packed don't say we are going to be busy. Feeding even white lies aboutthings that simple eventually leads to demoralization of your staff. This leads to mistrust ofyour subordinates. Currently I can ask any servers at the restaurants or my colleagues atwork, "If a manager says it is going to be busy..." their response is to laugh and know it willbe slow. When a manager arrives in the office he explains, someone important is comingfrom head office, and thus get things tidy. It is almost immediate nowadays. The staffs atthose places are so used to being lied to that they expect the exact opposite. Hell, one toldme that a manager one time just made up a policy and rolled with it. Made up policy... who

does that??

Now in my experience managers do this sort of thing because it is done to them up onhigh... shit rolls down hill? This I get and understand but I don't roll with it. If you know

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facts then state it. If you have an idea or a belief, mention it as such. If you have no cluethen don't make up or guess... tell us, the underdogs. We are all classified as adults so you

can talk to us as such. We understand you aren't omnipotent so trust that we can handlethe truth over overt lies.

How many times have you been caught off guard and been awitness to a manager or supervisor lying about the real situationregarding your job performance or your standing within theorganization you belong to and tell you that everything is fine andthere is no need for any concern. Surely it must have happened toyou a time or two as it has become a practice in the workplace to lieto people in order to take care of business.

Honesty in the workplace, especially in the UK is suffering andstraightforward performance feedback or evaluations have beentainted by managers not telling the truth in order to accomplish apre-determined goal or objective such as a reduction in force or layoff or worst, personalrevenge or retribution because they dont like you or how you might threaten their success.

Managers today have to make a choice whether they are respected for being honest or likedbecause they know how to lie. A manager that likes everybody and tries to please everybodyis unlikely to be an honest person as they compromise too much to make such relationshipswork. However, the truth is many do it and you must accept it as a matter of fact in theworkplace that it happens way to often when your work is evaluated or your contributions tothe organizations are unfairly assessed for tenure or promotions.

The first reaction would be a why me? or what did I do to made they mistreat me ordifferent? and the truth is it may have nothing to do with you at all. It may be the waymanagement has developed a policy to keep employees happy by lying to them and tellingthem they are doing great when in fact, they may not be meeting the cut to remainemployed or a layoff is imminent. The reasons vary but the practice is real.

The first and main thing you have to remember is that most managers are often the bearers

of bad news. If they bring you good news it is likely suspicious and short lived. Managers liketo exaggerate how people work in order to develop competition between people as theyenjoy telling you that you are doing better work than the others and telling the other personsthe same thing about their work. I am sure the truth is there somewhere between the truthand the lie but it makes it difficult to assess yourself so that you can make yourself a betterworker and more valuable to the team or organization since your feedback is more often nottruthful.

Good managers must know that in order to get ahead one does not have to be a liar, a thiefor a cheat. A good manager should have courage and behave morally at all times and not

blame others for their own shortcomings. Keep in mind that a good manager may be anexception to the rule and identify it as such when you deal with this problem. Goodmanagers also have good leadership qualities. Good leadership has two avenues or optionsavailable to them when it comes to under performers they can coach them, direct them or

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mentor them to acceptable levels or they can let them go. There is no third option when itcomes to effective management practices.

Bad managers lie because they want to or management preaches it. Unfortunately mostmanagers dont have the courage or intelligence to look another person directly in the eyesand tell them the reality around their job or future. They do what the company wants themto do and no matter how painful it is, they lie to avoid telling the truth.

Once you understand this concept of management you will challenge any and all commentsmade in your favour and seek the best way to improve yourself or make you a better workerbefore it is too late.