Imagine there’s been a shake-up at your job and you’ve inherited a new boss.

Let’s say your job is one where you advise the boss on communication matters: everything from relationships with your consumer publics, to relationships with the mass media.

In the weeks since his hiring, your new boss schedules talks with all employees, one-on-one, and it turns out he expects a pledge of loyalty from each individual.

You sit down with your boss and the conversation goes something like this, with your boss asking:

Will you pledge your loyalty to me?

You think carefully about your response.

Your job requires you to be honest with your publics, your administration, and with those who put their trust in you.

You don’t want to upset your boss or lose your job, but you figure your job can’t exist without honest relationships.

So, instead, you reassure your boss that you will always be honest with him.

Your boss replies:

But I need your loyalty.

And you repeat your promise:

I will always be honest with you.

This week The New York Times ran a story that described a similar encounter between the US President and James Comey, then-head of the FBI.

Comey has now been fired: a firing the Times speculates was driven in part by Comey’s refusal to pledge loyalty to the president.

I imagined how I would respond, given the same circumstances.

The response depends in large part on the personality of your boss.

In this case of personality, the president has been described as:

• Insane
• Unstable
• Idiotic
• Vainglorious
• Stupid
• Misogynistic
• Untrustworthy
• Mentally unstable
• Vain, insecure bully
• Pathological liar

So, in the context of a volatile, egocentric boss, the word loyalty is code for unconditional obedience.

Think of your own relationships.

Does your spouse demand unconditional obedience?

Your parents?

Your children?

Your boss?

The prospect of working for someone with such gross insecurities might indicate you need a change of venue. Soon.

Loyalty is earned, not mandated, with the rare exceptions of generals and emperors.

And the ersatz-emperor of our country looks foolish in his naked plea for loyalty.

Want loyalty? Get a dog.

13 May 2017

Image from the website “testeach”

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