Every day, it seems like more and more companies are either not doing well, filing for bankruptcy, or going out of business. There are many more to come if companies are unwilling to look at and re-adjust at least some of their core beliefs. Here are some of them…

__

The First Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#1  

Motivating Workers by Fear Increases Productivity and Conformity

Using fear to motivate workers is very effective short term. It keeps workers in line and meeting their quotas. That means they are working at that job because the fear of not having a job is greater.

However, breaking free of the fear will soon become the overpowering force.  That’s when workers mentally start to no longer care about their job or the company, or quit.

__

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#2

Some Workers Are More Valuable Than Others

Thinking the C-suite executives have greater worth and that everyone else can be easily replaced by someone else, AI, or automation can drive up company profits, but at what cost?

The problem with this core belief is that “what goes around comes around.” So, if companies have not valued their workers, those same workers will tend not to value or purchase their company’s products or services. They also let others know about how they are treated. Public perception of a company’s values and actions can get around very quickly, and sometimes impact the bottom line overnight.

__

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#3

Deception Can Attract Attention and Increase Sales

False claims and exaggerations do spark interest and generate more business. It also increases refunds, and unhappy consumers who talk. This only works long-term if the demand for the company’s products and services continues and there is no competition.

__

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#4 

Competitors Are Our Enemies

Companies, especially corporations, make it a practice to put competitors out of business one way or another. Eliminating a rival is the fastest way to boost sales, stop innovations, and control pricing.

Instead of making improvements to their products and services, fostering new ideas, and allowing a competitive market, they opt for an aggressive form of conducting business, proving that money and manipulation win.

With this core belief, companies can easily burn bridges, lose respect, get negative publicity, discourage high-quality performers, experience morale decline, encounter legal challenges, and fear retaliation.

__

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#5

Overlooking Certain Behaviors Is Sometimes Necessary to Retain Favorites and Top Performers

Making company policies and procedures but not enforcing them for everyone is only a short-term solution to retain key talent and avoid legal trouble.

But over the long term, this inconsistency can expose the company to legal risks, harm its reputation, raise the chance of accidents or security problems, reduce efficiency, and increase staff turnover — all of which create a very toxic workplace culture.

 __

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#6

Promising Is a Good Way to Attract Talent, Motivate, and Manage the Company Through Difficult Times

This is very common, to the point where we think dangling the carrot is just part of business. Offering bonuses is a good example of this.

When a company makes promises to workers (other than the C-suite and favorites), it is usually for short-term gain. Almost always, management has some kind of problem in one or more areas of their business that requires a solution, such as improving sales or needing to please stockholders.

Making promises is loaded with downsides to the company’s well-being. Some of them are…

• If the company reneges on the rewards promised for accomplishing the goals.
• It encourages unethical behavior to meet the goals.
• There is resentment among those left out.
• It leads to a toxic environment and reduced collaboration.
• Those left out feel exploited, which decreases morale and trust in management.

__

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

#7

Leadership is Getting Workers to Comply with the Company 

This type of leadership focuses on getting workers to fit within the existing organization. It strives for conformity, to obey whatever their leader says without question.

This way of leading tends to encourage workers to make sacrifices while discouraging input and creativity.

__

Another Core Belief that Needs to be Changed is…

# 8

The Company Benefits at the Expense of Something or Someone Else

(the environment, animals, customers, employees, the competition, etc)

 

IMPORTANT! This one core belief sums up all of the previous seven. As long as a company practices this, it’s already decaying from within. It’s guaranteed to collapse. It’s just when.

To speed up the decaying from within process, all the company has to do is ask its workers to do things that are immoral or borderline shady. Doing unethical things, or sometimes just being aware of them happening within the company, triggers an internal battle with each worker’s “soul.”

The worker may try to justify it by telling themselves that management is to blame and they are completely innocent because they were only following orders.

But underneath the surface, it eats away at the worker in various ways.

Some…

• Might experience sleepless nights or increased anxiety.
• Become physically ill or start having injuries.
• Will lash out or treat others poorly.
• May try to numb the feeling with bad habits and addictions, such as overeating, drinking, pills, drugs, overspending, or gambling.
• Will fear retaliation or karma for their part in the behavior.

Finally

The longer the worker tries to justify being unethical or working for a company that is unethical, the more it eats away at the worker’s life. Their “soul” will usually win. Sooner or later, to get relief and regain self-respect, the worker will take action to rectify it or make it right.

__

I have two QUIZZES that may help you…

Is the Changing World Stressing You Out?

How Often Do You Listen to Your Intuition?

Also, check out the Inner Work and Intuition sections on my website.

And, if you need an advisor to help you on your quest, contact Vickie Champion for a coaching and consulting session at a discounted price.