The Way to Overcome Company Myths
Posted on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 by Frank RocheThe conventional response to myths and urban legends is to counter bad information with accurate information. But the new psychological studies show that denials and clarifications, for all their intuitive appeal, can paradoxically contribute to the resiliency of popular myths.
That’s the summary of a report in the Washington Post today in an article called Persistence of Myths Could Alter Public Policy Approach. You see what the say there: It doesn’t work to counter bad information with good information. Letting a myth get legs at work, whether that’s about pay, benefits, or policies can make the communication challenge double difficult. Don’t let myths get a life of their own. And if they do, don’t deny — get new and fresh information out there.
Rob Robson
Sep 10th, 2007
Sure, I can see how this works.
A myth does the rounds and grow legs. It takes hold because it appeals to employees experience of the company on some kind of emotional level.
The company then tries to counter the myth with rational argument. It misses the point entirely, so the myth continues. Worse still, if management are not trusted, their counter argument may even add credibility to to the myth.
Organisations spend far too much time trying to engage on a rational level…
Frank Roche
Sep 11th, 2007
Rob, it’s right…it’s about storytelling and not just trying to say uh-uh. That doesn’t work. How funny because it’s so counterintuitive.