Tom Sartoon writes:

Subject: How your Manager can Hurt you?

Mr. Pitcairn:

I just finished reading some of your writings regarding the workplace and thought I would forward onto you some advice.

I first have to ask at what level of management or leadership role you have obtained or desire to obtain in “Corporate America”? The poorly written article with various infractions of literary grammar leads this observer to believe that not only do you need to concentrate on your writing technique but also the message that you want to deliver. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword but only if used correctly. The negativity that you clearly want to portray in your writing is neither beneficial nor productive. It serves no value or purpose.

The tone of your writing suggests a desire to fight, conquer and win as though someone is out to get you. A sense of paranoia exuberates from your writing as though a supervisor wants to discipline and/or fire someone. Has this been your personal experience? If so, I dare suggest then that you are not the expert in writing about corporate America. The role of a supervisor is to promote a positive working atmosphere, to establish and meet objectives and value the employee work group both individually as well as collectively. A supervisor would rather work more diligently on creating a positive atmosphere than calling an employee into his or her office for discipline. Documentation is a standard practice that works positively for promotions, pay raises and further job opportunities within a corporation. While indeed documentation can and should be used for disciplinary action, it is not the intent of management to go after people and get them fired. Your rational is absurd.

In your article you stated that there were 5 “laws” to managing people. You mentioned only 4 “laws” (planning, organizing, leading and controlling). As a manager you should be well aware that planning and organizing go hand and hand; they are not separate skills or “laws” as you prefer to state. I would suggest that before submitting an article that you follow the laws that you mentioned and apply them to your writing. You might say that leaving out one of the laws was an omission on your part but this omission exemplifies that you are not focused. If you want to fight to write and write to fight then be prepared. In most cases that I have encountered fighting was never part of the objective of corporate America.

At first I thought your remark about your original quotes and asking folks if they saw them elsewhere to let you know was a joke. They might be original but they aren’t very good. The “You can dance with the devil, but you don’t have to eat at his table” doesn’t make sense. It’s stupid; it’s ridiculous. In taking into context your blog, your articles and the tone in which you have demonstrated in your “so-called” writing warrants one to believe that you were not kidding and you were trying to be serious.

Perhaps Mr. Pitcairn if so much energy were focused on the positive and not the negative the state of Corporate America would not be in the state that it now finds itself in.