Have you ever worked with someone for some time, found that you agree with them on what should be standard operating procedures, and then watched them completely change after being promoted? What exactly happens when these folks are endowed with a promotion? Is there some kind of chemical reaction to promotions? A curse that is cast upon their decision making abilities? Or is the fact that these folks will lose all sense of what is right the reason they are chosen for promotions in the first place?
I just can’t understand why things that are so simple become so difficult after a promotion. Now, I know that not all who are promoted go through this, but I must say it seems to happen quite a lot. And from what I can see, this phenomena does not seem to discriminate in so far as which industry it effects.
I would like to propose that every employee take an oath that once promoted, they absolutely will not forget where they came from or how things should be done. All employees know what makes sense, what is productive, what keeps up morale, and what is fair (well, if they have worked in the field for any length of time). This knowledge should carry forward, regardless of how high an employee advances up the ladder. This way, all subordinates would know what is expected of them all the time, no matter who is in charge. Morale would stay high, production would be at optimal levels, and life at work would be good.
Perhaps we should create a vaccine to avoid this. An anti-irrational-new-manager vaccine. We could all voluntarily donate to the research for this vaccine, and once perfected we would be guaranteed a work life of fair and equitable treatment. Sign me up!
