I wonder if this mindset stems from previous training/conditioning that demands unquestioned loyalty.
I see this same blind loyalty from several of my military acquaintances. They can be extremely intelligent, independent thinkers, strong personalities, but if they find themselves under the control or management of a charismatic leader, they will do anything this leader asks.
I work at a mine where safety is a top priority and where we have safety meetings every single morning. One of our legally and federally enforced rights as miners is that we can refuse any work we feel is unsafe without fear of reprisal. Everyone knows this and many have exercised that right. And yet, one of our Superintendents admitted that if our manager told him to do something he knew was unsafe and dangerous, he would not refuse.
It is his responsibility to promote safety and lead by example, but if he is willing to ignore his rights, then I believe he'd also be willing to demand his employees do the same thing. That is NOT the image our company wants to project. Essentially, he is willing to risk his life and and forgo his rights on the word of another human being who probably does not feel the same way.
How do people let themselves get into these positions? Is it possible we are all susceptible under the right conditions (management, religious leader)? I want to think I'm not, but perhaps it's a natural human behavior or pre-disposition and I'm as susceptible as the next person.
™ Version 4.2
