The Tyranny of Pleasantness

The Tyranny of Pleasantness

In my book, Leading and Managing A Global Workforce there is a chapter about the tyranny of pleasantness – going along to get along.  It’s so dangerous and often leads to agreeing to take action that you know is wrong – just so that you don’t look different.

We emphasize teams and consensus so much that we’ve created an environment in which people are afraid to stick out.  I love a quote from former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.  She described consensus as the process of “abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies…something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.”

This reminds me of my definition of compromise.  She likes black, he likes white so they get gray – and neither is happy.