We continue to analyse with interest some more elements from the modern day manager's vocabulary. Some day these words will, hopefully, stand for what the manager uttering them really means. Until then, here goes:
Delegation: A fine principle, which, in its pristine form, empowers people by setting them goals, defining boundaries, and then letting them get on with it. In real life, this stands for the big bosses making it look as though a person is free to do whatever is needed to get a job done. What's left out is this: ‘As long as it is done, the way the boss wants it!' Something akin to Henry Ford's dictum that allowed the customer to have a car painted any colour that he wanted — so long as it was black.
Consensus-based decision making: This too is not what one thinks it is. It is a sophisticated, evolved and thoroughly democratic two-way process, where those in power listen to inputs from the others and then do exactly as they wish — creating the illusion of a participatory democracy.
(To be continued)