A colleague reminded me recently that a business is not a democracy. He was concerned that I planned to listen to too many opinions before making an executive decision.

Maybe so, but when you work with smart adults, autocratic orders lead to empty offices. Smart employees are mobile.

On the other hand, citizens are not as mobile. You cannot easily escape the consequences of the democratic process, whether or not you take part.

At work it is easy to believe that your opinion won’t count, even if it is heard. And in a country of many millions, it is even easier to believe that your one vote won’t matter, even if it is counted.

But if you are too lazy to vote, then heed Plato who said, “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.”

Oh yes, the same does apply at work.

Welcome to my side of the nonsense divide.