There is a growing number of people who enjoy telling certain people that we should only be receptive to feedback, while we are permitted to offer none. Instead, we are seen as bad workers just because we dare to think that some procedure could change, and yes, there are several racial implications. One of my favorite personal rules in life is that there are two I’s in “relationship,” which means that no one side is always right. Consequently, so much of the chaos on the planet can be attributed to people who never heard “no” and felt entitled never to respond to criticism. Nothing good has come from this mindset.
Now, workplaces are full of people who are afraid to speak our minds while everything implodes, and because we need to feed ourselves, we have no other options. We literally have people feeling like some individuals are responsible for taking on everyone else’s emotions, but the targets need to smile and show gratitude. Those who feel like everyone owes this behavior are bad bosses, and they should not be in charge of anyone. Yes, no one cares what I think, but honestly, who told all these freaks that they could pop off indefinitely and no one should ever have any response?
Let me be clear: this does not mean that everyone should either be cowed or that people should always feel free to speak their opinions regardless of inquiry. The whole “I just tell it like it is” attitude is an abusive, demeaning way of conducting oneself. My point is that feedback works both ways, and throughout my numerous jobs, I can count on one hand the number of people “above” me who could hear criticism and adjusted their behavior. I have had more than five jobs.
