Do You Want It?

Hank Gerber writes his Notes from the Cube . . .

“Do you want it, yes or no?” ‘Sounds like a simple enough question, yes? Try asking it at a meeting where there is apparently another agenda than the one printed in front of you – and you don’t know what that agenda is.

“Do you want it, yes or no?” Try asking it when you are simply the messenger and the persons who are supposed to answer you are decision-makers. “Persons” is purposely said: one-on-one, decision-makers are usually very verbally definitive to their subords – not so definite when it comes to putting that decision in writing – and positively discreet on their own opinion when sitting with a bunch of equal-ranked decision-makers and the issue isn’t open-and-shut.

“Another agenda.” Hell, it’s no “hidden agenda” conspiracy – it’s just the too-human fear of making a mistake in a situation where others are all-too-able to co-opt the credit and all-too-willing to let you take the blame for decision gone south.

But that’s what decision-makers are paid for, isn’t it?

Yep. And some even take the responsibility seriously. They’re the ones that used to work here.

Now, with the bland boys and marshmallow men in charge, a “decision” will become a fait accompli by momentum. One day it wasn’t, the next day it is. Or by osmosis: everyone will assume it was decided, questions of When and by Whom left unvoiced.

And no one has committed themselves to it.