Did He Really Say That?

I’ve sat on this thought for weeks because I wasn’t sure if the world really needed another commentary on Tony Hayward… but I need to get this off my chest. Are you kidding me??

I was as shocked and saddened as everyone when I first heard of the BP explosion. 11 men lost their lives and their families still grieve. 17 are still recovering from injuries. The resulting oil spill has taken over the Gulf and I’m repulsed by the video we see of the crud gushing into the water and onto the shore. The ecological devastation is still to be determined.

And I’m still sad, but I’m no longer shocked.

Check out my past posts and you’ll see I’m a champion of leader-driven corporate culture. So when I hear BP’s CEO, Tony Hayward, say things like

“What the hell did we do to deserve this?”

and

“The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean.”

and his famous

“I would like my life back.”

I come to believe that the company is being run by someone so out of touch and uncaring, that of course BP is going to have 760 “egregiously willful” safety violations. That he has fostered, in my opinion, a culture so focused on results and profit, that basic human decency is all but ignored.

You don’t have to ignore it, though. Newsweek and CNN have put together a listing of ways you can help. And a Google search offers up plenty more. In fact, you can turn this tragedy into a culture-building exercise for your organization. Rally around a cause and collectively contribute to making a difference.

And if you ever find yourself asking “are you kidding me?” regarding repeated statements or actions your leaders are making, it may be time to take your considerable talents elsewhere. Again, just my opinion.