So, people, leave pity city. Let's get it done," ... is probably not the right way to motivate people!

There is a pretty cringeworthy video/story that has been making the rounds lately, and it's hard to have a lot of sympathy for the CEO of MillerKnoll, maker of fine furniture (and a current furniture conglomerate) for decades.

But before you watch that video, watch this one, about their history. It's impressive. 

Miller/Knoll has long been a leader in the world of furniture, but their CEO, Andi Owen, created a shitstorm during a recent Zoom call to her employees. When told that they would have to forego their bonuses, the employees pressed her for more information and for advice on surviving financially, withotut their expected bonuses. 

Her clueless reply? 

"Don't ask about 'what are we going to do if we don't get a bonus?' Get the damn $26 million," Owen replies, referencing a financial target that they were short of delivering. 

And worse yet -

Owen closes the meeting by sharing some advice she heard from a previous manager:"I had an old boss who said to me one time, 'You can visit pity city, but you can't live there.' So, people, leave pity city. Let's get it done,"  

She ended the meeting by saying, "Thank you. Have a great day," raising her hands in a victory gesture and mouthing the word "boom."

Now I've never been the CEO of 11,000+ employees, but I'm assuming this isn't the way to rally them into better performance.