Jobs

How Middle-Level Jobs Breed Mediocracy

It is all over the place

Photo by Ran Berkovich on Unsplash

Years ago I was a mentor of a small student group when a large shopping store chain built a store in our town. When they opened I noticed a huge white wall running on the entire side of the interior. Wouldn’t it be cool to have that painted by our local kids, I thought.

This project would benefit kids’ creativity, it would create a true bond between this major company and the local community. On top of it all, it could as well be a good marketing move and perhaps a pilot project for other stores. What is there to lose?!

So I thought until I spoke to some middle manager in the central office. She said she’ll look into it, but that was just a polite way of brushing me off. At one point she stopped answering my emails and answering my phone. I got the message: she didn’t have a slightest interest in this project and here’s why.

The Best Case Scenario

Suppose everything goes by the plan; kids make a great mural, the local community loves it, sales get a substantial boost and similar projects are repeated over the country with amazing results. The company sells a lot more now.

But what will she gain? Perhaps a minor bonus to her salary? Perhaps not even that since some…