Are We Becoming Hyper-Domesticated?

During my long stint as a consultant to organizations large and small, I got to work with, and for, companies and branches throughout the Americas and Europe. Over that time, I observed something that astonished me: workers in the US and UK were, compared to those in the rest of the ‘west’, remarkably, even exceptionally docile and obedient. Under the veneer of first-name-basis casualness, hierarchy was basically never challenged and ‘subordinates’ never dared question what they were told by their ‘superiors’ to do. I couldn’t figure this out. The countries that prided themselves most as lands of opportunity, where anyone could do anything they set out to do if they worked hard enough, seemed inordinately, unnecessarily, and dysfunctionally regimented and unquestioning. On many occasions, I witnessed American and British middle-managers nod and quietly do what they had been told to do, even though they (and I) knew full well that these directions were uninformed, misguided, and…

Commenting on Bubbles has been removed. Why? If you want to talk about this post, write to the author, use the comments on their blog if it has them, or reply with a "RE:" post on your own blog. Suggestions? feedback@bubbles.town