Surviving the Workday

If you’re a boss, you should definitely read How to be a Good Boss in a Bad Economy. It reminds us that an ill thought out turn of phrase can lead to rampant speculation in a bad economy. More importantly, it also reminds us that being the boss leads to a certain world view that it’s difficult to overcome. A little power goes to our heads:

In this study, teams of three students each were instructed to produce a short policy paper. Two members of each team were randomly assigned to write the paper. The third member evaluated it and determined how much the other two would be paid, in effect making them subordinates. About 30 minutes into the meeting, the experimenter brought in a plate of five cookies—a welcome break that was in fact the focus of the experiment. No one was expected to reach for the last cookie on the plate, and no one did. Basic manners dictate such restraint. But what of the fourth cookie—the extra one that could be taken without negotiation or an awkward moment? It turns out that a little taste of power has a substantial effect. The “bosses” not only tended to take the fourth cookie but also displayed signs of “disinhibited” eating, chewing with their mouths open and scattering crumbs widely.

So there you have it: a little power, and you’re taking the last cookie, chewing with your mouth open, and eating like a slob. It’s difficult to overcome, but it’s not impossible with some foresight and manners.