The Pinocchio

The Pinocchio Boss obscures the truth with smoke, evades it with half-truths, or lies outright. Working for one ought to qualify as torture under the Geneva Convention.

The first problem with Pinocchio Bosses is that you can’t do a good job with the incorrect information they provide. That’s fundamental. The second is more insidious – serious liars usually suspect others of lying in return. They seem to think, “I’d lie in this situation, so he must be lying.” The resulting breakdown in mutual trust makes the atmosphere toxic.

Sometimes Pinocchio’s motives aren’t so bad. All of us may shade the truth occasionally to avoid hurting someone but People Pleasers carry it to the extreme. They don’t want to give us bad news, so they deceive us. In the face of such excessive caring, I’m tempted to sing the Dixie Chick lyrics – “Let 'er rip, let it fly / I ain't about to bawl, and I ain't gonna die.” We can usually pry the supposedly hurtful truth out of People Pleasers by asking enough questions, pinning them down. But it’s work and so unnecessary.

Another Pinocchio category is the Insecures, who want to cover up their own ignorance or ineptitude with a lie. Since it’s their own feelings that are in danger, they are much harder to crack than People Pleasers. Getting to the truth requires independent investigation. One solution: if they cite regulation or policy, ask for the document that spells it out, explaining, “So I won’t be so foolish next time.” Other lies can be uncovered by finding counter-examples. e.g., “Smith was promoted without spending a year in a lower grade.” It’s also hard work but amazingly successful and won’t win you any friends.

I have met only three bosses who were shameless, Total Liars. Fortunately for me, they weren’t my bosses and I could usually observe from a safe distance. They lied because they had to win at any cost or just because they could. I once sat in a meeting in which Paul calmly denied saying something that everyone present had heard him say. After a failed attempt to shame him into admitting a mistake, we all just gazed at each other in wonder. He wasn’t even embarrassed by us all knowing he was a liar. Paul didn’t trust anyone else, either, constantly accusing others of fabrication. Paul destroyed morale in his department, drove away clients, and made work life miserable for anyone in the vicinity.

There is only one solution for Total Liars – get away. Get away quickly.

What other archetypes have you encountered? Share some stories.