- Leandro Herrero - https://leandroherrero.com -

The Zeus of Management is a god called They.

If we needed a handy god in organizational life, somebody who could come to the rescue and have the final saying above other lesser gods, that godhead should surely be a god called They.

Here is how we invoke him (or a her, I don’t really know)

They will never approve this
They don’t get it
They are not very good
They don’t like this
They have never told us
They must have a plan
They are were lucky
They will never do that
They are the problem
They should really take responsibility
Thy are not credible
I don’t know what they will say

Don’t try to find out who They is because it is an invisible god. Nobody has ever seen that god They. In fact, They would not be a god anymore if visible and accessible.

One of many branches of Theology, the study of Theos/Gods, asserts that god, let’s say with capital G, can never be understood, seen, even described. So all we can do is to try approximations and provide poor articulations. This school of thought has been very strong in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

So, don’t try. Do you mean the Board, the Leadership Team, division A, my own troops? As soon as you say yes, the god is gone. So, keep it as They and you’ll have plenty of use of it.

I’ve never seen the god They in organizations, but I have seen the intense worship. It seems to work, and explain, and satisfy, and calm down, and provide comfort. And, mainly, be highly responsible for everything.

You know, the sort of things gods do.