Where Have All The Good People Gone?

Once upon a time in a land not so different from yours, I stood in front of a man of note and heard him say, “Never expect to be thanked for doing your job”.

How wrong could he have been, for the words, “You’re doing a great job, Thank you”, drives us all on and motivates us to do better.

Those in management who uphold this thankless theme are under the misguided perception that highlighting only the negatives, which are most likely arse covering tactics, will drive their workers on to greater things.

Well, have I got some news for them! This tact will inevitably lead to dissent, low morale and poor self-esteem amongst their workers, loss in productivity and for some unfortunate souls, depression that will take them years to recover from, if at all.

The sense of worthlessness created by this thankless society, coupled with the current global financial crisis and the increasing expendability of workers, are pushing many including industry, to the brink.

Even Nursing, once a long-term employment opportunity, is under threat by the current staff freezes and voluntary redundancies here in my home state of New South Wales, Australia.

So, Is it so hard to give thanks for a job well done?

No, it’s not, and it’s about time the belligerent who are hell bent on thanking no one and cutting costs to the bone, changed their tune before they start asking the “yes men” that surround them, “Where have all the good people gone?”

The morale of this story: Thanking the ones that make others look good is what it’s all about.

Before I go, I’ll leave you with this quote from Albert Schweitzer:

”At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

To be continued...