We delve into the possible meanings of these commonly used phrases.

We have an open culture: Alarm bells ought to ring when one hears such a statement. The real message is possibly the opposite of what is being stated. Those who are naive enough to be open and frank will be smoothly eased out of positions of any significance and posted to organisational Siberias where they can contemplate the perfidy of the human mind.

We believe in making you a well rounded professional: This is about the glorified ‘job rotation' policy to make it sound more managerial and majestic. In essence, this is the crafty art of destabilisation when someone who is close to doing well in one discipline or a geography and is likely to challenge the boss's position, is wantonly transferred elsewhere. The idea is to keep every one on edge and safeguard one's chair.

(To be continued)

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