When I was very young, pre school, I had a best friend who lived across the narrow alleyway behind our house. Every day at some point but usually after breakfast and lunch I would ask my mum to open the gate in the wall at the end of the yard so I could play with Sussie. One day my mum sat me down and in a rather serious voice told me we were moving to a new house, it would be exciting going somewhere new and I would have my own bedroom. Ok I said although I wasn’t particularly bothered about having my own room but if mum said it would be better. We moved a few days later. It was exciting seeing all the boxes and furniture being loaded into the big van by some jolly men.
I don’t remember much about the car journey, my new room or the bigger garden to play in but I do remember we had chips from the fish and chip shop as a special treat because everything was still in boxes. After tea I asked mum to open the gate. She then said we don’t have a back gate in this house. How do I get to Sussie’s I asked. Sussie doesn’t live here. So I went into the garden to look for the gate. There was no gate and no Sussie.
Now my parents knew that Sussie was my best friend but when selling me the idea of moving they never mentioned that it would involve no longer playing with Sussie they just talked about having my own room and a bigger garden to play in. Of course I had on choice in the matter, my dad had a new better job in another town so we had to move. Years latter when my mum was showing the family photograph album to my then girl friend there was a picture of the old house and my first ,”girl friend”. So I reminded my mum of how I was tricked into accepting the move. Don’t be silly she said I am sure we told you, you were just too young to understand and in any case we didn’t want to upset you.
I think of this story when paternalistic organisations are discussing a reorganisation and new working practices with their employees.
Blair Mcpherson former Director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
