UK referendum or no referendum life goes on. I wonder how many people voted, either way, not because of a deep understanding of the issues or even a strongly held personal conviction but because that's what they thought others wanted them to - newspapers, colleagues, politicians etc.
Peer pressure is an issue in a working (and personal) environment that stops us thinking for ourselves. I remember being told a story about the consultants who worked for McKinsey some time ago now. All the men wore long socks because that was what they were expected to. The reason was I think so that they did not show any part of their legs if they were with a client. But did that really matter? And if you follow a sartorial habit what else might you also be mimicking without independent thought.
And in the days when workers smoked if the boss smoked cigars or a particular brand of cigarette then everybody else did. And if the CEO was a man and grew a beard then everybody else did, at least among his male colleagues. Even more worrying if the managing director, man or woman, decides to come into the office at 6am and leave at 10pm then all of their direct reports follow suit whatever the consequences.
I am not here commenting on the behaviour of the bosses, although excessive working hours may not be good for their business judgement, but on those who follow them. Whatever our role as professionals we are paid and valued for our independent views or at least should be. If we are not actually saying what we think but blindly following some other persons opinion then I suggest we are not doing our job.
It's not of course easy to avoid being influence by others but perhaps being aware of this tendency can help to address it and form individual views and perform our jobs better whatever the peer pressure may be.
Peer pressure is an issue in a working (and personal) environment that stops us thinking for ourselves. I remember being told a story about the consultants who worked for McKinsey some time ago now. All the men wore long socks because that was what they were expected to. The reason was I think so that they did not show any part of their legs if they were with a client. But did that really matter? And if you follow a sartorial habit what else might you also be mimicking without independent thought.
And in the days when workers smoked if the boss smoked cigars or a particular brand of cigarette then everybody else did. And if the CEO was a man and grew a beard then everybody else did, at least among his male colleagues. Even more worrying if the managing director, man or woman, decides to come into the office at 6am and leave at 10pm then all of their direct reports follow suit whatever the consequences.
I am not here commenting on the behaviour of the bosses, although excessive working hours may not be good for their business judgement, but on those who follow them. Whatever our role as professionals we are paid and valued for our independent views or at least should be. If we are not actually saying what we think but blindly following some other persons opinion then I suggest we are not doing our job.
It's not of course easy to avoid being influence by others but perhaps being aware of this tendency can help to address it and form individual views and perform our jobs better whatever the peer pressure may be.
RSS Feed
