One party’s negative opinion poll may not be the other party’s vote-winner

IT’S a funny thing about this country. Even though we’re filled with hatred, bile and venom, at the same time, we’re no good at giving face-to-face negative feedback, at least in formal work situations.

Unpunctual, unclean, uncivil, uninterested and unproductive employees go unchallenged because a manager can’t summon up the courage to tell them to get their act together. They go for their annual review and come out morally glowing and monetarily richer, leaving behind a manager who believes some hard truths were told, whereas in fact, any hard truths were packaged in so many layers of bubble wrap that their impact was muffled at best.

On the other hand, we’re mighty at negative feedback as long as we don’t have to do it face-to-face.