Achieved Strategies

I find myself in a serious mood lately. Certainly the politics in DC and the state of our economy and country weigh mightily on my mind. What weighs more heavily, though, is how we are treating one another.

Einstein once said, “A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?” I wonder this about my undying belief that we can make profound, positive changes in how we work together. Am I crazy to believe bright spots of optimism will once again brighten these murky times?

I’ve been labeled an idealist, a dreamer. They are labels I wear proudly, sometimes defiantly. It is from such beliefs and actions that I say we all need to expect more from our own leadership.  We could treat each other better. Though this will look different for many of us, I see three common areas where we all can step it up:

Not ignoring self-deception. We all could show more care to not allow others to continue deceiving themselves. In context of leadership:

• Let’s have a thoughtful, direct conversation with those who continue believing their needs are greater than that of the whole.
• Pull aside a manager who does nothing to address low morale in her team.

It’s likely you know leaders who are deceiving themselves. You can make a difference in asking the well-timed question about what’s going on. Please, though, be mindful to not make the person wrong. Show you care by wanting to understand what’s going on her life.

Look into your own prejudice. I don’t intend this to refer to racial or sexist prejudices. I’m referring to prejudices, preferences associated with ideas or beliefs in how things should be. These hold everyone back. They stifle creativity. They create a generic work environment. Generic products. Generic services. They only reinforce prejudices.

• Pay attention and write down the times you say no when a different idea is presented.
• Stop telling employees you’ll surface their idea and then present it half-heartedly. Or worse, say the idea was not well received when decision makers never heard it.
• Begin to position employees to share their ideas, solutions to problems with decision makers – face-to-face
• Make amends. Simply make amends.

Stop resisting speaking up about injustices. We’ve all been in meetings wanting so badly to share concerns about the direction of a conversation, a decision.

• We must all expect more of ourselves when what’s good for the whole is shallowly considered.
• Expect more from each other and not allow another half-hearted effort to address complex problems be accepted.
• Speak out against short-term thinking driving employee layoffs. Be ready to share alternatives, statistics about the impact to customer satisfaction and resulting decline in profits, PR nightmares and brand bashing.

I know I’m not alone in these viewpoints. I talk with so many people who want these things. So many of you advocate for treating each other with more grace, understanding, acceptance. Many of you share your thoughts here. We’re not crazy. There may be a lot of noise, but my voice, your voice can be heard.

Photo courtesy of Visualogist