Aversion therapy

I know it’s the season of goodwill, but I had one of those moments this week when I thought thank goodness I no longer work in a corporate.

That’s putting it politely.

It doesn’t really matter what the issue was, but I had to contact bp about something I’d written in the book.

I wanted clearance.  It really wasn’t much, it wasn’t an issue of reputation or anything confidential.

And yet, it’s taken weeks for me to effectively give up.

My original email was specific, it went to an SVP, a VP, an HR Manager and an HR Advisor.

None of them replied.  Obviously. Despite repeated chasing.  Even picking them off one-by-one.

Eventually, one did - I was that much of a pest.  With something bland, hoping I’d be fobbed off.

I wasn’t, so they used the classic “I’ve referred it to Legal”.  I probably used that a few times myself.

Then I was sent an email with hundreds of lines of legalese to “remind” me I could not publish anything confidential about bp.  Yep, I’d already got that.

So I asked my very specific question again, even more directly this time.

It was several days before the immortal corporate line arrived: “I would avoid mentioning it”.

Textbook corporate behaviours.  I don’t remember the training, perhaps it was just absorbed by osmosis:

1. I don’t understand the enquiry or care to try, so I’ll ignore it and hope it goes away (or to someone else).

2. I don’t understand the question or care to try, so I’ll say I’ve referred it to someone in authority.

3. I don’t understand the question or care to try, so I’ll copy and paste something that looks important, even if it’s not relevant.

4. If 1-3 don’t work, I’ll say ‘no’ (but ambiguously so I can’t get in trouble for that either).

Sound familiar?

I was pretty lucky in my last few jobs at bp.  I had lots of autonomy, air-cover from a senior boss and I was trusted enough not to screw things up.

And yet, I know I used all of these tactics to get someone off my back.  Looking back though:

• It didn’t make me feel good.

• It didn’t make me feel confident in myself or my autonomy.

• It didn’t appeal to my need to help others.

What lies beneath all of it is simply risk aversion. And lots of it.

But not corporate risk aversion.  The people I were dealing with weren’t worried about bp’s reputation or other consequential losses by publication of something in my book.

They were worried about their own personal risk.  The fear that something or someone will come back to bite them.

The fear is so strong it stops otherwise bright, capable people from using their brains and trusting their judgement – and it stops really decent people from helping another human being.

Even though today, I spend quite a lot of my time working with corporates, indeed acting on behalf of one, I don’t feel like this today.  I am much more prepared to be personally accountable.  I trust myself and I’m no longer terrified of being wrong.

Part of this is because I feel more independent.  I feel like no-one owns me anymore; if this job doesn’t work out then I’ll find another.

My future is mine now.

And yet ironically, as the people I contacted would have known, if they’d have bothered to give me a call, I’m still pretty loyal to bp.  I don’t want to harm its reputation in my book and I have no interest in leaking anything confidential. And I don’t need the threat of legal action.

I kind of hoped the SVP, who I’d heard good things about, would have just stood in the shoes of someone who’s left the company and wants to use his experience to help others, and said “Let’s help him – let’s reassure him, let’s treat him how we would like to be treated”.

But even he can’t. 

Risk aversion is endemic.  And it stops these once-great companies from being great today.

It held me back.

But no more.

Don’t get excited, there are NO revelations in my book, NO salacious gossip, NO insider intel.  That doesn’t interest me.

What interests me is inspiring people and building their confidence.

I don’t need approval from anyone for that.

Although…it’s nice when it happens.

A coach, who I just met for the first time last week, offered to read my book and give me her honest view.  She wrote this:

“I feel an overwhelming relief that others out there (yourself) are 'telling the truth'. Peeling back what many think is true, so reveal the truth! I love your very direct, punchy and to the point style. It's a very powerful read.”

If any of what I’ve written resonates with you and you’re not sure you want to be sitting there resonating this time next year, or even next summer, drop me a line.  I’m coaching a few people through their transition, using the method in the book and I can talk you through how it works and what you can expect.