“Special Pleading”
This Time is Different
What is Special Pleading?
Attempting to describe circumstances that make a specific case appear to be unique in order to plea for an exception to a general rule.
Business Application
Mental gymnastics are often carried out when it comes to money. Explanations can also appear reasonable when expressed properly. The important takeaway here is that special cases often bring about larger complexities that were not necessarily considered when exceptions are made. While no system is perfect, checks and balances are created to sustain efficient operations. Breaking those checks and balances for trivial or indulgent reasons can cause more issues than they solve.
Example
“I deserve the ‘most productive rep’ bonus this year. I worked really hard and every previous year I’ve come really close but just miss it. Surely, if you look at my numbers from the last 5 years, they average out to be better overall than some of the reps who actually won this bonus.”
Why This is a Fallacy
The more likely conclusion is that the employee is distracted or overwhelmed with their workload. The employee either fails to see the truth for what it is, or is reluctant to open up to their manager about the real issues they are facing.
