Working Wounded Blog: Rampant Lying at Work
July 26, 2006 — -- Today's workplace is full of lies, and those lies are frequently used for a multitude of reasons.
They can range from outdated truisms to a means of passing the buck. And some are even used to manipulate lower-level workers into drinking the company Kool-Aid.
And because of all the lying, it's gotten harder and harder to separate truth from fiction at the office. So I'm weighing in today with a helpful cheat sheet. If you hear any of the statements below, there's a good chance you're being lied to, manipulated or at the very least asked to believe something that defies reason.
Here is a list of my favorite workplace lies:
Technology will bring us closer together.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
We have an open door policy.
Numbers never lie.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Success breeds success.
Gen-Xers are slackers.
You'll do better under the new compensation plan.
The customer is always right.
The first to market guarantees success.
My enemy's enemy is my friend.
Quality over quantity.
It's a small world.
The early bird always catches the worm.
The paperless office.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Age before beauty.
Don't go out on a limb.
There is honor among thieves.
The good die young.
Flattery will get you nowhere.
When you've got it, flaunt it.
Be yourself.
Cast not pearls before swine.
Faith will move mountains.
All good things must come to an end.
You get what you pay for.
Keep your nose to the grindstone.
Moderation in all things.
You can't keep a good man down.
Look before you leap.
Life is not a popularity contest.
Nothing is impossible.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Don't swap horses while crossing a stream.
Honesty is the best policy.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
All's well that ends well.
The emperor has no clothes.
Take it easy.
Don't just stand there, do something.
Patience is a virtue.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.
Crime doesn't pay.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
You can't fight City Hall.
Don't rock the boat.
Don't ask for trouble.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
You win some and you lose some.
Less is more.
Never say die.
It could be worse.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips." -- Oliver Goldsmith
BOOK EXCERPT OF THE WEEK
From "Career Bliss" by Joanne Gordon:
"It is not easy to take the seven proactive steps:
Blog Ballot Results
Here are the results from a recent Working Wounded Blog/ABCNews.com online ballot:
I think personality tests like Meyers Briggs are …
It is the best, 22 percent
It pays the bills, 70 percent
It is the worst, 7.8 percent
Bob Rosner is a best-selling author, an internationally syndicated columnist, popular speaker, and a recent addition to the community of bloggers. He welcomes your comments at bob@workingwounded.com.
This work is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News.