Broken Systems – Work Culture

I am convinced by this earlier post that climate action needn’t be entirely focused on systems change. And I regularly revisit this earlier post about the most significant actions individuals collectively must take to address climate change.

At the same time, it is clear that we have a very broken system. But what does that really mean? I find systems thinking challenging (here’s a long read that I found instructive, though it will take much more thinking and practice (and re-reading) before I really get it), but also deeply rewarding. This post will focus on one of many places where I’m putting these new muscles to work: work culture. 

It is unsettling to realize that most of us are working towards broader ends that we do not determine or control. I was speaking with a friend the other day who began working in a prestigious job as a banker about a year ago. I asked her why she and her colleagues were willing to work so many hours when they claimed to not want to. The conversation went something like this:

Her: Everyone wants to be the best.

Me: The best what?

Her: The best analyst.

Me: Why?

Her: They want the highest bonus. The praise of more senior bankers. A promotion. 

For all the talk of young people wanting purpose, for many of us “success” is determined externally by our salary, job title, and the admiration of those around us. And that is perfect for business, because of course what business wants is people who are trying their hardest in a way that advances the organization’s goals, regardless of what each individual’s personal goals might be. As my banker friend said (paraphrased), “I had a terrible weekend, but it was worth it because we got a lead bank title”. Well…you lost your weekend and the bank got the title. But now you get to say that you work for the bank that gets the titles, so I guess I see the connection. 

If the organizational prestige were only awarded for things that advanced the social good, then maybe this would all be ok. I don’t know. But certainly as it stands there is a big disconnect. I may care passionately about addressing climate change, but I am also a human living in this society and regardless of what I may think, I will earn my living at an organization that almost certainly (and regardless of what it may say)  does all sorts of things that go against the social good. 

Banks are one illustrative example, as all of the talk at COP26 showed (here, for example is the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero’s (GFANZ) November 2021 progress report, which is very lofty and long. I have nothing against it and it all sounds good, but given that we know from the IEA Net Zero by 2050 Report that we cannot afford any more investment in fossil fuel supply, it’s somewhat mysterious to me as to why that’s a bright line commitment that isn’t there). Finance is important, but most people working at financial institutions probably don’t see themselves as complicit in the fact that trillions of dollars are directed at polluting industries vs clean ones. They are just being the best analysts (or whatever other title) they can be. It really isn’t up to them who those skills are benefiting, so long as the customers pay the fees/repay the debts.

And this applies to every one of us, regardless of where we work. Toy companies put harmful chemicals in children’s products. Farms spray toxic pesticides. Medical startups fake results.  Airline manufacturers sell planes that don’t work. Pharmaceutical companies push addictive drugs. Industries pollute water. Honestly the list is endless. And of course a part of the story is “companies” who are willing to do anything legal to make money, even if it’s supremely harmful. But another part of the story is that the companies only act through people. Through all the people in all the roles who probably are wonderful people and yet are coopted into this project. 

This is what it means to be part of a system. Of course most employees of J&J (to pick another random example) are not responsible for fueling an opioid crisis. But on the other hand, without employees the organization would not have had such fuel. That is (at least part of) what it means to be part of a system. 

I’m still thinking it through. But this basic point leads to others. For example, it seems to make clear why deregulation is nonsense. And why corporate taxes are so important. And why prioritizing something outside of the company is critical….Right?