There is nothing wrong with being a bottom-line company, if it is properly aligned and clearly communicated to the employees and customers. But when management says one thing, yet does another, that organization is misaligned and fraught with opportunity for rejection.

For example, the CEO proclaims that people are the firm’s most important asset, even though the company hires mostly part-timers, offers no benefits, pays minimum wage, and lays people off when the business is slow.

An organization becomes misaligned when it is pretending to be something it is not. Bottom line counterfeits, masquerading as middle line companies, promise long-term employment, growth opportunities, career planning, advanced training, and profit sharing. However, should their profit projections not hold up they quickly shift focus to saving money and reducing costs.

The veteran employees are the first to be let go because their wages are higher. This maneuver forces the remaining, less experienced employees to work harder. Involuntary overtime goes up while performance goes down. Production declines because people are afraid to say anything for fear of rejection.

These tactics are referred to in management jargon as “getting lean and mean,” or “doing more with less.” The net result in the short term might be additional income, but in the long term, it remains in a state of misalignment.

So, why should this be of interest to you? At first it appears as if nothing can be done to change the existing situation. Not true, there are many actions you can take. In the first place just knowing what is causing the misalignment should make you less likely to feel personal rejection. After all, you’re not crazy, this stuff is really happening.

Additionally, by understanding the source of the misalignment you’ll be able to help those around you who are having difficulty adjusting to it. Lastly, by recognizing the signs of misalignment you’ll know how to adjust to it before the feeling of rejection sets in.