320 Years of History
Gold Member
- Nov 1, 2015
- 6,060
- 822
Since when does anyone not have both a public and private story? Have you never said, "I shouldn't tell you this, but..?" Have you never said, "You didn't hear it from me, but....?" Have you never been part of a management team that has to craft a message to staff that isn't untrue, but also doesn't disclose all the information that is available? You've never sought to present bad news in as rosy a way as you can? Court settlements are often sealed so uninvolved parties can't obtain the details. Hell, making sure that "sealing" happens is more often the reason for settling instead of allow the matter to go to trial. CFOs don't disclose every financial detail to company employees or to the public. People don't disclose their salaries. Governments do not tell citizens about everything they do. Some instances of non-/incomplete disclosure are lawful, others aren't.
The fact of the matter is that in managing anything -- a company, a family, a non-profit or a government -- managers are not ever going to be fully transparent. The notion that there be no secrets is just preposterous. I bid the first person who has no secrets to raise their hand. People may say they have nothing to hide. To that I say, "BS! Everyone has something they don't want disclosed." The higher up the "food chain" one looks, the more secrets there are waiting to be found.
The fact of the matter is that in managing anything -- a company, a family, a non-profit or a government -- managers are not ever going to be fully transparent. The notion that there be no secrets is just preposterous. I bid the first person who has no secrets to raise their hand. People may say they have nothing to hide. To that I say, "BS! Everyone has something they don't want disclosed." The higher up the "food chain" one looks, the more secrets there are waiting to be found.
