Loyalty

Sometimes I think that I live in a world where nothing is constant. Think about it. These days one can change their name, spouse, gender, dietary preferences, religion, sexual orientation and physical attributes as examples. People reject the notion of stereotyping and many of life’s past constants exist in some sort of continuum between two extremes.

A liberal utopia

Having the ability to change is welcome as it allows people to express themselves freely in whatever way they want. With the important caveat that they don’t interfere with anyone else’s wellbeing in the process. It’s a beautiful liberal utopia sweeping across the world as people go with the flow.

They ain’t loyal

Today I am writing about loyalty and am asking the question whether it has any place in this new dispensation. My theory is that all humans are loyal up to a point. That point being where maintaining a constant actually interferes with their needs. Not having options is not the same as being loyal! Loyalty implies active choices from a set of options. Not having options is just…not having options!

Using an employment example, if you treat employees well they will remain loyal. But only up to a certain point. There is a condition whereby employees will not be loyal to you because the opportunity cost to them is too high. Where forgoing the income from another job is too high a cost to pay by being loyal. Or forgoing a change to a new team means turning down new development opportunities. There has to be a point where even loyal employees are giving up too much of their personal needs and freedoms by remaining loyal.

The price of loyalty

My basic argument, therefore, is that true loyalty implies a cost. A loyal spouse sticks with their partner in good times and bad. A loyal football fan still wears the team jersey despite their being relegated to a lower league. A loyal employee sticks around when the company can’t increase their salary, despite the ability to find employment elsewhere.

Why does it seem like so many employees are unwilling to carry the cost of loyalty? My theory is that many leaders flaunt the fruits of their success. Amongst the most successful leaders humility is dead. They flaunt their stuff, material and otherwise in employees faces. Unwittingly making employees aspire for the same things too. Reducing the likelihood that the employee will remain loyal when presented with the same opportunity.

Conclusion

Are you aware how much your loyalty to something will cost you in opportunity? Are you aware of what you have to give up, reject or pass over by remaining loyal to something? Sometimes the cost is not negotiable as in the moral case of being faithful to one’s spouse and family. In some cases we want to change and express ourselves differently so the cost of keeping the status quo remains high.

Whatever, the thought process, spare a thought for those who remain loyal to you. There is a cost that they bear every day, in order to be loyal to you? If someone is loyal to you, it means they are willing to incur some sort of personal cost in order to support you. They have options, but they chose you.