Theory: Silence Leads to Silence

Theory: Silence Leads to Silence

There can be three main ways to try to get a wrong corrected by a sick organization. One, go to the top boss or the governing body of the organization in a quiet way so as not to embarass anyone. Two, go public and see if any public outcry leads to a change. Three, pursue the matter via legal action. None are guaranteed to work. Sometimes, for some people, the best option is to just leave the sick organization, and start over.

A person wronged by a sick organization may request a hearing as per organization handbook, a top boss consideration and ruling, or other direct means, etc., to correct the perceived wrongs. The person may think it best to do his actions quietly, or is told/requested to do so, to not embarass the sick organization (or himself) in the eyes of the public/media. The victim may be trying to do things the right way. The sick organization does not care if one is trying to do the right thing, the major thing that matters to them is the public perception of the place. If one is quiet about his complaints, the sick organization will generally be quiet/not reply about said complaints, and will do as little as possible in your behalf that will still keep you quiet.

So what is an honest person to do against a sick organization and its actions? See previous post on "Theory: Troublemaker Must Decide."

If at all possible you need a memo, paper, picture, video, or audio evidence of wrongdoing against you that can be "discovered" by another, or posted by another (not working at the sick organization), so he /she can raise the cry for justice in your behalf. If you tried to call attention to wrong treatment of you, then you'd most likely get labelled a whiner, trouble-maker, sore loser, disgruntled employee, alarmist, etc., and receive little attention.

You must remember that a sick organization wants to stay the same and operate the same as before. If you request an action that takes more time/work than the sick organization thinks it should give you or if you pursue possible actions not involving the legal system, you will most likely be met with silence and inaction. But, IF they think you might be a loose cannon that could do about anything to advance your cause (you are mad as hell) they then might start to do something, but drag out their actions in response to you to take longer time and/or cause you to give up. One should not accept verbal promises from the sick organization (you will have no proof of what they said)(they will make all sorts of verbal promises intended to placate and quieten you that they have no intention of keeping), but only written agreements or actions that can be verified, seen, and documented/witnessed by others.

The sick organization is not going to:

---admit to any wrongdoing.

---help you in any way that could help you prove their wrongs.

---tell the truth, or take any real action, unless forced to do so by legal actions, or by possible public exposure, or by negative publicity.

---expend any energy/time on your requests/demands unless they are forced to do so by legal actions against them.

---do anything quickly to solve the wrongdoing, but will drag things out as long as possible to wear you down to make you give up.

---give you any praise or acknowledgement of a good job.

---let you receive from them any positive publicity in any media (you have to generate your own positive PR, if you want it, via other channels, means, contacts, etc. And this will make them mad.) They will put out publicity/pictures of others around your work.

One example of an organization caught:   A university seems to be more likely to correct a problem IF one or more of its people is caught in the public eye in a wrong act -- otherwise the university does/says little or nothing. Thus, if its students or staff screw up enough in the public eye so that negative publicity starts to appear in the media, then the top boss will quickly do something to punish the wrongdoers so there is the public perception of a "great" university, that acts quickly to correct wrongs. Nothing could be further from the truth. They only act quickly IF CAUGHT. If not caught in their wrongdoing, nothing is said and all is buried as quietly and quickly as possible, as per a bunch of busy cats burying their poo.

Generally, if you operate in silence you will receive silence and inaction back from the sick organization. You must decide if you want to undergo the stress of public exposure or a legal action that may possibly lead (no guarantee) to some action in correcting the wrong.

Adrian R. Lawler, Ph.D.,   (C) 2012 --