Jun 11 2009
Limiting executive reward or tall poppy syndrome?
Banker’s bonuses, MPs expenses claims, executive reward…
Hot topics generally at the moment and there’s no doubt that something needed to be done to stop widespread abuses of these reward and compensation systems.
There is public uproar as people in the street see those who lead their biggest and most powerful organisations caught with their noses in the trough.
I don’t want to get drawn into specific cases or defend the system but I am intrigued by the splashback, our response and plans for amending them.
I wonder if we are reacting too severely. Calls to strictly regulate or even limit executive reward, prevent bonuses for any top managers of banks that the government has bailed out with taxpayers money – will this be the best way of getting our banks back to profitability and our economy back on its feet?
I don’t have the answer. However, if we make these jobs so unappealing with limited prospects for reward or remuneration, we will not have a queue of talented people lining up to to take on these undoubtedly great challenges. It seems more likely that we could end up with the young, or inexperienced or even the less competent people who wouldn’t be appointed by more robust organisations.
I wonder whether we are now seeing the public expression of tall poppy syndrome…
We look around and see standing in our midst one who has reached higher and blooms for all to see… it might be that they are not spectacularly more beautiful, brighter or more coloured, but they have reached further… and instead of asking “How” or “Can we grow taller too” our first response is to reach for the scissors and cut them down to size.
Not a pretty sight.
And I’m not certain that this is true, but I know I need to look at myself and my reactions to events and ask, am I cutting down tall poppies or striving to grow taller?
