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BUSINESSMAN'S BLUES

How to Face Reality,

Like an Ostrich

At one stage in my life, I did not open But the really strange type of denial who then seduces boardrooms and
envelopes that contained bills or bank is the involuntary non-cynical type senior executives into joining this
statements. My thinking at the time that starts in one's own head and then alternative reality because it seems to
was simplicity itself: if I don't know conveniently externalized as the truth, be more palatable than the ugly truth.
about it, it will not bother me. Simple the whole truth and nothing but the Very often, this signals the beginning
logic it might have been however, it truth. Thereafter, one starts to act on of the end for a once-successful
was stupid in the extreme. I might as and pronounce 'stuff' based on this businesses.
well have closed my eyes and ears and false narrative, convinced that one is
stood on a busy railway line. It's easy to label and judge people who
display 'denial' as bad, delusional,
"Can any of us, with
This mental state of deniability is psychopaths, and the rest of the
temporarily comforting and helps us hand on heart, claim stereotypes. In many cases, it would
to get through the day, while at the be right to do so. However, let us do
same time, reducing our chances of never to have gone into a some introspection here. Can any of
dealing with the ever-growing and denial mode?" us, with hand on heart, claim never
impending doom. to have gone into a denial mode?
Maybe not necessarily on major
Yet, we do it at various stages of our right and commits all energies and issues like invading a country, rigging
lives, privately and professionally, resources to defend this conviction. an election or destroying a company.
individually and collectively. Men Nevertheless, we have walked down
and women of impeccable skills and History is full of alternative-truths the street and ignored the pleas of help
expertise indulge in denial. Some are created by individuals who were in from a homeless person, witnessed
so good at it, they in fact recruit many involuntary denial. They committed bullying in public or at school and
around them to join in this fantasy crimes, small and major, in the belief pretended not to hear, became aware
world they create around them. Their that it was perfectly justified to do so. of sexual or racial harassment and
power of persuasion is such that They even wiped out large chunks turned a blind eye. This is apart
otherwise sensible people are slowly of past events, as though they never from not opening official looking
made to set aside uncomfortable or happened, in order to fit history into mail because we instinctively know
inconvenient facts and realities and their version of reality. They invaded it carried bad news rather than a tax
step into this other world where countries, started wars, fought and rebate notification.
everything sounds and looks so much won elections, embezzled companies,
better. committed fraud, all on the basis that Finally, and to some extent
they were right and justified. Worst of disappointingly, the ultimate state
Then there is the politically expedient all, they took no action when action of involuntary denial is to do what
term of "plausible deniability" which was necessary and vital. They turned the ostrich is supposedly famous
is deliberately used by politicians a blind eye to wrong-doing, allowed for: burry its head in the sand when
or business leaders to create an genocide, did not challenge bullies faced with predators. I am sorry to
alternative fact-like reality; that and dictators, they even aided and disappoint you but, this is a complete
sounds reasonable and believable, empowered wrong doers to commit and utter myth as ostriches never do
to distract from the unpalatably their evil deeds. that. They do what every other animal
damaging or scandalous truth. This does when faced with imminent
type of denial, despicable as it is, is Business schools, books, lectures, and danger; they face reality and either
understandable because it is designed keynote speeches bear witness to the fight or flight. So, my advice to you is
to mislead without self-delusional prevalence of corporate denial, often to be like an ostrich.
dimension. created by an influential individual MUFID SUKKAR - JUNE 2018

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA 21