Training for Mixed Messages

Many times, training or learning events are seen by executives or management as a cure for something that cannot be “fixed” by mere training or learning events.

For example, ethics, diversity and compliance training in response to specific and repeated incidents cannot and will not be effective if a support structure is not in place to ensure that after the training is over, the employees have incentive to be in compliance, act ethically or value diversity.

Remember, Enron had a strong ethics policy but…it didn’t even slow down top management in their race for money and power.

Employees know when executives or management dictates training in one area because they “have to” or it seems like the right thing…while, in fact, they are doing the exact opposite. I think Eliot Spitzer is an example of that. He preached about crime and then committed it as if he were immune. This seems to happen a lot to people in power whether it is in government, academics or private corporations.

So next time you are asked by an unethical executive to create ethics training, consider pushing back. Or when a compliance officer is just trying to check off a box on a list of compliance activities…resist. Or speak up when diversity training is done to simply “look good” to customers.

To underscore my point, view this hilarious video from the Daily Show as an example of how executives or pundents can say one thing when it is in their favor and another when its not. (this does have some offensive comments, therefore, it is not NAFW..Not Appropriate For Work but it is funny.)

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