27 Jul 09 “Eh…So What?” – How to Counter Public Criticism for Meetings

This is the response that some companies are giving to the idea of public criticism for their meetings. So why aren’t their head honchos worried about business, and what people will think? Because they are more concerned about what their employees think.

Leaders Being Leaders

If the executives of companies that are doing poorly go ahead and change meeting plans to accommodate public scrutiny, it may be for the best. But what about companies that are doing well? What about the ones who didn’t need a single penny of help from the government and have actually flourished in these hard times?

All companies should not be judged with the same jaundiced eye the public has gotten over the last year. In fact, they should be praised–they held themselves to high standards and should be permitted to continue along their successful route with no interference. This includes meetings.

All things considered, a leader of a successful company who kowtows to public criticism may actually be seen as weakened by the employees. Such it is with any leader: if the leader of a country ran up the white flag at the first sign of conflict with another country, he or she would be seen as weak and spineless.

It may be a matter of messages here. The businesses in trouble should tell their employees, “Hey, we need some help here, and we’re going to do everything we can to preserve your jobs, even if it requires canceling meetings to save money and reputation.”

Those who are not in trouble should continue to send the message of strength and independence even if the public doesn’t like it–and they should hold their meetings anyway.

Tags: Business People, Conflict, Interference, Jaundiced Eye, Jobs, Money, Public Criticism, Public Scrutiny, Reputation, Send Message, Successful Company, White Flag