In the fast-paced modern workplace, the words of leaders often have multiple meanings. Sometimes, they speak the truth, painting a clear, achievable future for us; Sometimes, they don't mean what they say, they just use flowery words to "paint cakes" and motivate us to keep trying. For those of us ordinary people in the workplace, how to distinguish whether the leader is telling the truth or painting a cake is a survival wisdom that must be mastered. Below, Lao Bai will reveal the truth behind the workplace discourse.
1. Sincere encouragement
Truth is characterized by being realistic, concrete, and able to provide us with a clear direction of action. When we hear such words, we feel reassured because we know that what the leaders say is what they really mean, and that the words are actionable. Sometimes, leaders motivate their employees with passionate words that are often inspiring. They could be some great ideas for the future, or expectations for the personal development of employees. This kind of discourse is usually more specific and closely related to the actual work of the employee, so that people can feel the sincerity and care of the leader. For example, when a leader says, "You've done very well this month, and I'll get you more project opportunities next month." Such words not only affirm our efforts, but also give clear expectations and commitments, which have a high degree of credibility.
Second, the routine of painting cakes
Unlike sincere incentives, some leaders prefer to motivate employees in a "pie-drawing" way. This type of rhetoric often has a purpose. They need to achieve the company's goals by motivating their employees and improving team morale and cohesion. However, compared with the truth, the cliché of drawing cakes seems hollow and vague, and often lacks a concrete path to achieve it. This kind of discourse often uses exaggerated and uncertain words, such as "there will be infinite possibilities in the future", "as long as you work hard, you will succeed one day". "In the future, the company will definitely go public", "Each of you has the opportunity to be promoted", etc. Although these words sound uplifting and exciting, they lack practical and substantive content, but they are not necessarily realized in a short period of time, and are more like empty encouragement.
3. The truth behind it
We need to understand a truth: leaders are also human beings, and they also have their own interests and goals. Therefore, when they speak, they often consider their own position and interests, rather than completely out of concern and love for employees. This has led some leaders to deliberately use some vague and uncertain language when speaking to maintain their flexibility and avoid unnecessary trouble for themselves.
We also need to be mindful of the "political" nature of the workplace. In the workplace, interpersonal relationships are complex, and everyone has their own interests and positions. When leaders speak, they often take these factors into account and choose words that are beneficial to them. As a result, sometimes we hear leadership statements that are not based entirely on facts and truth, but are the product of some political considerations.
To distinguish whether the leader is telling the truth or painting a cake, you can start from the following aspects:
Look at the actual action: If the leader is not only good at talking, but also in action, such as providing training opportunities for employees, improving the work environment, etc., then they are likely to be genuine.
Look at the specific content: If the leader's words are more specific, involving the employee's work performance, personal development, etc., then these words are more likely to be true.
Look at the tone of voice: If the leader speaks in a firm tone and with a sincere attitude, then these words are likely to be sincere. Conversely, if the tone is frivolous and the attitude is perfunctory, then it is likely to be cliché.
In short, it takes a certain amount of skill and experience to discern whether a leader is telling the truth or a cliché in the workplace. For those leaders who can only "draw cakes", we must also be vigilant enough not to be confused by their rhetoric. In the workplace, we need to be rational about all kinds of words and learn to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Only in this way can we better protect our interests and achieve personal and professional development.