Straight talk or spin
I called on my plumber mate, Gus, last weekend. He was explaining to
a client why he hadn’t completed work on his building site. It all
sounded odd to me. Gus was being as diplomatic as I had ever heard
him but, underlying all the diplomacy, was deception. He had been
at the footy, and was now going for a cover-up. When at last he hung
up, he told me he was giving the angry client “a bit of spin”.
Spin has become pretty common these days. In fact, some people are
employed to create spin and are known as “spin doctors”. They have
become an essential part of the political processes of everyday life.
With elections due, we will all no doubt hear a lot more spin and
have to decipher it for any underlying messages.
It has been fascinating to listen to the political and technical
responses given in some of the inquiries into the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Top-level officers have equalled their political counterparts’ ability
to answer without answering. They have gone for cover and to “slip
out of the hot seat”. Have you listened to comments from several other
organizational inquiries lately? There is spin going on there, too.
Of course, spin isn’t new. We have just become better at it. Jesus
faced it in his time. Powerful leaders looked to entrap him and be
rid of the influence he had on the crowds and common people. They
objected to his new ways and revolutionary standards. They used spin
that was cunning, credible, divisive and destructive, rather than
honest. As usual, those who used it lacked integrity.
My wife informs me I have used spin myself from time to time. She
has overheard the odd telephone conversation, or my dealings with
callers at the front door. “Why don’t you just be honest with people,
instead of going overboard with polite brouhaha,” she has said. I
admit to being tempted sometimes.
Conversely, as I explain to my wife, some of us need to learn a little
diplomacy. I hear Gus sometimes jousting verbally with one of his
neighbours, and understand why the feud continues.
Some bosses and supervisors could speak with their troops in more
ambassadorial tones, too, and thereby obtain better co-operation.
Most of us respond better to encouragement than abuse. When I’ve attempted
to explain that to Gus on occasions, he’s responded with spin, in
the hope I’d get the message before he felt forced to use a more direct
approach.
Spin seems, at times, to pay dividends. It also can be deceptive
and lacks integrity, even though it may seem to get us off the hook.
“What are you men up to out there”, Floss called through the kitchen
window.
“We’re discussing the feasibility of time re useability,” Gus replied.
“You can serve the first course. We’ll be in when the last five minutes
comes around again.”
Floss shook her head as we took another sip.
I hope the conversations are straight at your place.
