Weasel bosses: The buck stops where?

Do you have weasel bosses at your office? Decisionmakers who like to use phrases like these:

- Maybe that's a good idea. Yes, maybe we should be doing that.
- Ok, since you say so.
- Yes I signed it but they screwed up so you can't say I signed it.
- I was misinformed into saying something I didn't mean.
- Well you put it on my desk so I just signed it. You should have checked it first, don't blame me.

Over the years, I have compiled a compendium of my favorite weasel words used by irresponsible decisionmakers from the CYA (cover-your-ass) school of management, the Asian variety.

Typically this type of boss, not having any good ideas of their own, will praise a staff's idea declaring "Yes, yes, maybe that's a good idea. Maybe we should do that." He nods to the idea of a project team. The project takes off but for some reason goes awry. All eyes are fixed on the decisionmaker. He snarls, "But I said maybe it was a good idea. M-A-Y-B-E. Read my lips. Look at the minutes. I never said definitely." And the responsibility for the failure is shoved to the poor sod who originally proposed the idea.

Believe it or not, when shit hits the fan, there are plenty of COOs, CEOs and board members out there who would do exactly that: run behind semantics to avoid being accused of making bad business decisions. Its like watching a real life version of Dilbert's pointy haired boss. This type of boss does not admit to lapses in judgement. They shrug off responsibility with remarks like, "Well it sounded like a good idea at the time but he didn't know how to execute it so its his fault."

So you tell me. If an army general orders an invasion, can he blame it on his infantrymen for failing to conquer the territory? Should corporate accountability have a different meaning? Should we adopt the Japanese culture's meaning of the word accountable?

It would be nice to but it won't happen because when it comes to work, our codes of honor are different. Other people believe in the buck stops here. We believe in kia si, Hokkien for afraid to die.

In Malaysia, you can't do a Donald Trump (you're fired!) on the boss or anyone for that matter when their ass is on fire. The law makes it very, very difficult. With such immunity, weasels rule. They continue to reach into their bag of tricks and throw out magic words like "empowerment" to assign blame, hoping people won't notice.

This is why I believe that knowing one's boss is as critical to one's career as having the know-how. They checked up on you when you applied for the job. You can also check up on them. Don't be lazy. But for now, if you're always the fall guy and candid talks with the boss don't work (and many of them think they've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice anyway) it could be better to save your sanity and take your talents elsewhere.

Oh yes, while you're at it check out Scott Adam's Weasel Nominees for 2006.