The word “Bullshit” has been defined as usually vulgar, foolish insolent talk by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. But is that so? In today’s fast-moving world the talent to daze people with a combination of slippery words and body language takes precedence over any intellectual straight talk. I am amazed by the apathy of these talented sweet talkers to blatantly lie on the face of their unassuming audience knowing very well that a few people around them as well as they themselves are fully aware of the stunt they are pulling. Has the world now become accustomed to buying a set of lies over honesty and integrity.
I see this ever-growing trend in business that had been the main cause of the last financial crises where a set of greedy businessmen and bankers duped a people and created a mess of Biblical proportions. I come across salespeople and business owners regularly who are fully aware of their white lies and I have started noticing that this has now become second nature to them. Whatever happened to honesty, integrity and the pursuit of wellness and wellbeing for the masses. A sales transaction is only considered successful if its win-lose according to Dr Covey’s definition.
Lying as second nature is creating serious consequences in the business world because businessmen have bitten more than they could chew. Uncontrolled borrowing and risky investments in sectors that are just “Cool” for the moment have diminished the real engine “Cash” for their regular mainstream operations. This has resulted in even more borrowing creating an endless cycle of loan repayments that eventually get to a point of total breakdown. Countries, where Bankruptcy Laws are not clear, have regular stories of absconding businessmen leaving a trail of destruction.
Coming back to the talent of “BS-ing”, this I would say is an inborn as well as an acquired trait. I have seen my customers being mesmerized by a team member in ways I cannot even describe as the English vocabulary is deficient of words for it. The same customer would have been arguing with me a minute ago and was about to abandon the business with my company and then enters the master performer of our group and juggles the colourful words and voila! The tables get turned, there are hugs and high fives and the world has turned upside down. The only danger in this whole drama is that I am well aware that this façade is going to breakdown very soon and I along with my team members would have to clean up the “BS” left behind and it would smell much nastier at that particular time as compared to when it was delivered.
Somehow we have to make our coworkers, bosses, colleagues and peers who are regularly infected by the “BS Syndrome”, make aware that they are digging the ditches of future pain and reputation for the whole organization. I understand that this is difficult to do in these times as the “BS Masters” get rewarded much more than others and it is seen as a talent than a vice but somehow truth must be told. In case the culture of the group compels you to stay quiet then it's better to leave this organization because a group of cows are the best fit for a pen and eventually they will be going to the slaughterhouse.
In the end, I would like to recommend 3 great resources for people struggling to fit in a culture where “BS” is smeared across the corridors. Great individuals are working to create and help the world to work in a decent and collaborative way:
- http://www.careandgrowth.com / (Schuitema Associates), Mastery through the right intent.
- http://www.brenebrown.com/ (The Power of Vulnerability, Top 5 talks in TED History)
- http://www.plasticitylabs.com/ (Improve Happiness and Drive Revenue)
I would strongly recommend the readers to go through these resources and make sure to keep away from “BS-ers”
Keep your head up and keep away from Bull Shitters!
You can contact the author at masomo@eim.ae
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
