Tall Story 3 - Perceptions and reality

In this latest installment of Peter Powers' Tall Stories he looks at people, perceptions and the effects these can have on the views and judgement of others.

I was just playing my whistle when I heard a man say “that'll keep you going for a few days". So said Tim Pockettt the other week having sat on the street begging for money, playing his tin whistle. He looked into his collection pot and there gleaming amongst the odd coins was a diamond ring. A very lucky day for Mr Pockett, a self confessed vagrant, who probably had a lot less luck subsequently trying to convince a jeweller or pawnbroker that he had acquired his bling legally.

After all, vagrants and diamonds do not always go together and therein exists a problem for most of us. Pretending to always know what does or should match when we the read newspapers, speak with our stakeholders or just go through the usual round of business meetings every day. It's always surprised me how people perceive things so very differently. Take for example, "Cardigans, sandals, socks, traditionalist, stagnant and corrupt". What or who is being described here?

No idea? Well neither had I until I read a report by the Church of England where they asked many youngsters to describe how they perceive the Church in 2006. I sense the new 'street cred' Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, will have to do more than just wear his hoodie to church (he actually does this..) to try and change this rather anti establishment opinion held it seems, by many young people in the UK.

However, doubting the credibility of those in authority goes far beyond teenagers. We are all much more cynical about politicians these days who constantly seem out of touch with reality. Previous Prime Ministers in this country have eventually been forced out of office for coming out with one liners that fly in the face of what we perceive is actually happening. Take for example Harold McMillan in post war exhausted Britain saying to the electorate “you've never had it so good" or some years later Jim Callaghan returning from a working holiday abroad to a damp strike ridden UK with rubbish piled on the streets “Crisis. What crisis?" (notwithstanding the Press put these words into his mouth).

Much more recently we'¢ve all heard Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health saying “it's the best year ever for the NHS" and then going on about money invested, when all the evidence from those who actually run the system points to the NHS being near collapse. Even last week the Home Secretary John Reed went endlessly on about money pouring into our security services to defeat terrorism, when all the evidence points to more difficulties than money alone can ever solve. 

The real trouble is we have lost faith in what we previously thought was obvious and in so many people who in a crisis have a key role in telling us all what to do.

When a flu pandemic grips this country will we actually believe what Patricia Hewitt will be telling us? Will we believe the Home Secretary when he announces another thorough review (sorry 'narrative') following the next dramatic terrorist attack? Probably not and that's really worrying when a coordinated response is vital to prevent any drama from becoming a real catastrophe. But it's not just politicians or Church leaders who sometimes lose credibility and cannot be trusted in a crisis.

All too often it is business leaders, captains of industry and boards of directors who expect to give strategic and trustworthy directions in any drama, without realising that it's the followers who actually determine the true leader. That's one reason why running BC exercises at all levels, is so important. To realise that a plan not tested, is to know thats it's a plan not to betrusted.

So where does that leave us? Perhaps we should end more or less where we started by reminding ourselves that people can sometimes have the most amazing good fortune, albeit totally unexpected.

A few weeks ago in Oregon USA 33 year old Mr Isidro Mejia went to his local hospital complaining of a headache that would not go away. A superficial examination showed nothing obvious. However, X-Rays revealed something truly startling. Mr Mejia had 6 nails in his skull between his right eye and ear, 2 below his right ear and 4 more on the left side of his skull, each just missing a major blood vessel, but he could not initially remember how they got there? He might have accidentally slipped and fired his nail gun a few times, or tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide? Whatever the truth this lucky man has now left hospital and was last seen heading to the nearest church!.

Peter is MD of Visor Consultants Limited.  If you have any Tall Stories that you would like to feature on the Forum Website then just connect us.

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