Standard Ethics 101

"Don't promise anything to any employee unless you will honor it".

Simple huh. Yet, with one employer, I was promised twice by two separate executives that I would be promoted to an officer level (VP) position. Instead, I was let go provided no reason whatsoever. If I was suppose to implement programs that the executive's hired consultant wanted me to do, than decided he was not going to implement such changes under my command, that means eating his words and admit to wasting a lot of time and dollars in the process. Far be it to admit a mistake.

Well, life is not fair. And it hasn't been to me in a professional sense. I tend to work for employers that have little knowledge of business management, or skills to deal honestly with employees. In other words, I have yet to find an employer that at least will accept different point of views, than choose the option and let us implement the plan. This is not rocket science, but some employers are so reluctant to listen to new ideas, much less take risks to grow a business, they are way over their heads and become more insecure in their leadership ability. Thus, they take it out on their employees (blame them for not working hard enough or complaining about petty stuff).

I may not know how to run a business, but I do know how NOT to run a business when it comes to developing and listening to people. No CEO is the Wizard of Oz with all the answers, but must utilize the talent to help them in their decision making process. Don't listen to what you want to hear, but what you need to hear, and if you're wrong, admit it. No one made you God, so don't pretend that you are one. The employees know that, and so should a CEO.
Egos can be a wonderful aspect to have to drive oneself towards success, but if abused just like anything else, it can implode a company or organization.