> Ben Compton wrote in part:
> > The tragedy is that the full intelligence and ability of people is seldom
> > harnassed when they're not able to fully express themselves at work.
and Vana Prewitt responded
> How often do we inadvertently squash the creativity, enthusiasm,
> intelligence, and productivity of our knowledge workers by continuing to
> manage them as if they were grinding widgets for a living?
My main comment has to do with Ben's comment about (unless I mis-remember)
not trusting anyone. To me that sounded like "speaking out of hurt". We've
heard that tone before (whether or not Ben's comment is the same), and I
myself have used it. People in an organization could possibly not
understand what we understand on a given point and yet still have the
authority to make and enforce their decision. That is not the point of my
comment, though.
On another list, I found a note today about Mistrust. It was explained in
terms of fear based on another's pending review of one's work. The fear
could prompt not trusting those whom one manages because their work is
counted in part as one's own.
What can be raised in opposition to going around in fear? One notion that
we have from Dr. Deming is that the opportunity for not understanding is
great. How many times did he say, even of management, "how could they
know?" Perhaps more in terms of the mental reaction, "how could they not
know?" yet the truth is, "how could they know?" Whatever it is that we
think must be and they think must not be, what is the means available to
them in the past to think the same thing that we do?
Another valuable consideration is that these same co-workers bring forth
observations that I have not previously been aware of. Thus they
contribute to the furtherance of the mission and help to complete goods
and services that I do not provide as one individual.
The main point may be, though it may not exactly follow, that I do not
seek to find a person to address with the charge that I mistrust them,
though I could imagine in imaginary scenarios that I do not completely
"trust" them. I trust God and I trust my pastor. I don't particularly
trust myself. In fact, I don't usually get into the mode of asking the
question of who I trust.
We can always find something -- a deeper southern accent, a tendency to
prefer fine things, a pound or two overweight or underweight, blown hair,
perplexity or the attitude of knowing everything -- to value someone else
less. Were it not for experiences and learning afforded me, I'd not be
where I am today. The other person is the same way, or I may as well think
that. What am I doing so that they have the freedom and joy of my benefit
to them? (A wink is probably an appropriate interlude.)
Yesterday I added the heading to my home page "Give us free!", the cry of
the plaintiff in the Amistad case. I imagine that in so many ways there is
still a hope for that same freedom among people and a request for it.
I'm not scolding Ben, just offering my comment from another corner of the
office :) And for myself I'd like to say that I appreciate having
co-workers and bosses and their putting up with me!
--"John Paul Fullerton" <jpf@myriad.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>