The Pinocchio Effect

Have ever you avoided a phone call by instructing your assistant…

"Tell him I've gone to lunch" or "Tell her I'm in a meeting" ...when it's not true?

It seems like a harmless fabrication. It allows you to avoid that undesirable conversation. It helps you to seize control of your schedule. The end justifies the means. Right? But, is it really so harmless? Is this efficient management or the start of a Pinocchio Effect? Let's examine this closer.

• Aren’t you really asking your assistant to lie for you?  Has this become an unwritten part of the assistant's job description?

• Have you forced the assistant to compromise his/her values and beliefs to support for your procrastination?  How does this values compromise affect your assistant’s attitude and performance? 

• How long before that attitude becomes contagious in the organization?

• Can you legitimately expect complete candor and loyalty in return?

• How does it establish conduct for future transactions in your department or company?

• When you begin by blowing off vendor calls, how long before you’re saying: "The check is in the mail" ...when it's not true?

• What will happen when you need that something extra from the vendor?

• How long before your people start blowing off customers... "That order's going right out" ... when it's not true?

• What happens when your customers sense your organization’s lack of integrity? How did the clients of Arthur Andersen react?

Global manufacturers establish a rigorous process of documenting procedures and certifying their compliance for ISO Certification. The ISO process is designed to establish trust among international strangers. Simply stated, ISO compliance certifies you: Say what you do and  Do what you say.

• What really happens to your business when any of your stakeholders question your ability to say what you do or do what you say?

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"Just tell him, I've gone to lunch." 

Does the end ever justify the means?