Account paid in full

Lately at my part-time gig, I've been reading and writing about the Knowledge Worker Age, or the era where employees are actively engaged in their own career through education, active participation of company success and accountability.

Stephen Covey calls it the 4-D workforce: "The reality is, human beings are not things needing to be motivated and controlled; they are four-dimensional — body, mind, heart and spirit. In today’s Knowledge Worker Age, only those who are respected as whole people make the other available choices: cheerful cooperation, heartfelt commitment or creative excitement."

This concept blows me away for many reasons. When I worked at the yet-to-be-named tax prepartion company, we spent countless -- no really, countless -- hours filling out goals, evaluations and then results. Excel spreadsheet after spreadsheet of minute details that show we do a good job. And in return, we received our standard 3% raise, and once received what can only be called a tongue lashing on why we were failing. Goals were met, objectives clearly stated, results compiled, and yet we were not fulfilling our obligation to the shareholders. Hmm...

The call for accountability is the part that really gets me. If you have worked -- or stood near -- corporate America, the going motto is CYA: Cover your ass. Because the blame game is widely played and eventually you will be dealt a hand.

I know as a writer, this is doubly true because if you write it and send it out, it becomes psyeudo-fact. In my case, I ghost wrote a lot of memos and articles for senior managers. If my writen word caused them any grief -- despite the fact that it was approved by them -- it was my ass.

Since leaving that life, I cannot imagine why I was so permitant of it. I would not allow my husband speak to me in the same derisive tone that managers or co-workers used. Brainwashing, I believe it's called. I was brainwashed into believing I needed them more than they needed me.

It actually reminds me of this synopsis I read of George Orwell's book, 1984, to which I have drawn parrallels before.

.... used speech codes to limit everyone's ability to understand higher concepts or concepts that favour human individuality; that uses powerful media to build unwarranted consensus and rewrite history; and that has used technology to nip political opposition and individualistic or eccentric practices in the bud...

So what can you do to overcome? Not let the man get your down? I often draw on a visual that my friend Bob would use. He liked to imagine the CEO sitting at his desk wearing nothing below the waist but a jock strap and white socks.

And suddenly, things aren't so bad...