The Cynical Manager

Abstract

In the world of work today, cynicism describes a set of attitudes frequently attributed to managers, workers and customers alike. What do these attitudes represent and what do they tell us about ourselves? This article offers a philosophical and cultural history of cynicism before addressing fundamental questions about cynicism: what it is; where it comes from; how it is manifested; and how it affects organizations. The author concludes that for some individuals, cynicism is not merely a reaction to external events but an endogenous perspective of life. It may be that for these individuals cynicism furnishes a strategic mode of thinking about and approaching a whole range of organizational dynamics. After providing some insight into the nature of cynicism itself; an argument is presented which recognizes a brand of cynicism which, contrary to the `popular' understanding of the term, provides a positive and optimistic force for change. For example, in a culture which increasingly relies on sound bites as a substitute for critical dialogue, cynicism can provide a theoretical bridge between what we are told is happening and what we instinctively feel.