Being involved in number of companies at both the operating level and the board, I have the terrible misfortune of dealing with various stakeholders who talk in public as if they know everything, self-righteous and can do a better job. It is also quite unfortunate that there are also some gullible people that believe what they hear just because they saw it on social media, a Viber group or someone just said so.
When you hear someone talking or see what they write, isn’t it only proper that you assess the person making the comment or statement, before accepting what they say is true? Shouldn’t you consider that perhaps what is being said is misleading, incomplete, unfair and even an outright lie? Would it not also be appropriate to look at the credentials, reputation and the basis of the person talking?
Here are some of the things you should consider in assessing people making statements and accusations. First is the level of accomplishment of an individual. It is indeed a sorry sight when a has been is being lambasted by a never been. In some organizations, I have seen many previous officers and directors criticize the incumbents for not doing a good job. However, during their tenure, they were unable to accomplish what they want the current officers and directors to do. In many cases they did not even come close to the current achievements.
There are also many stakeholders who use every opportunity to make a nuisance of themselves and promote their vested interests. They would make accusations that the current officers and board did not do their job, and failed miserably to act on certain complaints. What do you do when a shareholder complains that he only got the information and financial statements now when you are looking at the membership notice providing the information more than a month ago? What do you do when a shareholder asks for an exhaustive presentation which is already provided in the materials given to everyone and the company achieved an all-time high performance? What do you do when someone files a complaint based on second hand information that violates the data privacy act? The Chairman should politely put them in their place and move on.
It is also appalling when someone is self-righteous and demands going beyond what is required in a process and yet these are the very same people who violated all the rules in the past and in other organizations. I have seen former board members who demand certain types of actions from the current board that they did not do during their term. The organization should be thankful that people like these hypocrites are no longer in power and pray that they never return.
What are the credentials, experience and credibility of the person you are listening to? Would you ask for financial advice from a poor person? Would you go to an obese gym instructor? Would you take golf lessons from someone who never broke 100? Would you take driving lessons from someone who does not know how to drive? Would you listen to someone you know is a liar? This is all up to you but I suggest you look who’s talking.
(The views and comments of the author are his own and not of the newspaper or FINEX. Dr. George S. Chua was 2016 FINEX President, 2010 to 2020 FPI President,an entrepreneur, a regular member of the National Press Club, Chairman of Alabang Country Club and loves playing golf. Comments may be sent to [email protected])