- McDonald's -

We're not paid to rock the boat

In Reply to: A once great company can be great again posted by Mike Bacon on July 12, 1997 at 01:49:53:

: : : When driving an airport limousine in the early 1980's, I had the experience of meeting many McDonald's execs, as the limo company for which I worked serviced McD's world headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. Almost without exception, these individuals were uncannily young, often in their late 20's or early 30's, and aggressively obnoxious. I gained the distinct impression that they had been recruited primarily on the basis of their rudeness and exaggerated self-importance.
: : : The one incident that most stands out in my mind is of a 30-ish McD's exec who got in the limo for a ride to the airport. After a cursory hello, the first words to leave his mouth were "How much (money) do you make doing this?".
: : : To this I replied something like "Enough to suffice, thanks".
: : : His quick response was "Well, I make forty-five thousand dollars a year".
: : : I was non-plussed, and said something like "gosh, that's nice", but obviously he was quite impressed with the statement, as with himself.

: : Jeff, your story hits the nail squarely and illustrates a contributing factor to the demise of a once great company . . . ARROGANCE. Unfortunately, not much has changed since the 80's. Corporate decision makers are consumed with self-importance, we can do no wrong, and only persons such as me can make the right decisions. Disdain for subordinates as filtered to the lower ranks and erroded moral and productivity. Only when the brashness and arrogance of the type you described is changed or eliminated, will this company again begin to grow.

: Dee, is there any chance of you company employees getting together with the Franchise owners, and sorting this out with those blowhards? Get together, and flood the Corporate office with grievance letters. There is strength in numbers! The franchise owners should especially get on their butt!!! Make those execs earn their money and bennies!!! The owners should demand more involvement in the decision-making, and other improvements that will benefit them!!!

Mike, there's a lot of truth to what you say, but it's easier said than done. With arrogance and self-importance goes all knowing attitude and a "don't confuse me with the facts, I already know the answer" mentality. The corporate bureaucracy is to great and complex. They know the answers, but do not have the will to make the difficult decisions. Why doesn't anyone speak out? Maybe this proverb says it all: " You can make a few waves, but if you rock the boat too much, you'll get thrown out". Many people in the bureaucracy don't want to get thrown out of a good thing and find that going along to get along is the easiest answer. We're not paid to rock the boat, just to keep it a float or take the blame if goes off course.

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