The Power of Words
Starting Each Day With A Little Thinking...Static or Dynamic
My HS English class was a long time ago, but I do remember the concept of “static” versus “dynamic” characters. The static guys were the ones that stayed the same through out the story, while the dynamic characters evolved through the story. They were where the action was. Where the focus was. Where the excitement was.
Most stories followed a familiar script: introduce us to the characters and situation, develop some sort of challenge, face the challenge, overcome (or NOT!) the challenge, and present the outcome (or set the stage for the sequel!). The recipe is very successful as we’re wired to love stories. Prior to the written word, the history of mankind was passed on through stories. They’re in our DNA.
Most of the good stories have the protagonist changing in some dramatic manner through the situations that he/she faces. Often time there is pain, suffering, and challenges that must be overcome. Normally there’s a critical moment where the character has to make a choice: do I step out of my comfort zone, face the challenge, and trust that I can handle the challenge? In the good stories, the character IS dynamic. They do face the challenge. They do encounter uncertainty and discomfort. They do evolve. They do grow. And they do end up better for having faced the challenge.
My question for you today:
Will you be static or dynamic or dynamic character over this next year?
As always, thanks for the time.
Fear
While I’d love to think that I’m totally fearless, the reality is that — like almost everyone out there — I too suffer from the “fear of paralysis” on occasion. It’s really quite ironic given the situation: I’ve got a great family, am 100% financially secure, healthy, have some good friends, and am blessed with a great mind. Anything that I’ve taken on in life I’ve found a way to make work. Yet when I contemplate taking a step in a new direction, I often hesitate. Why is that?
It’s that fear thing. We’re programmed by years of evolutionary development to make sure that we survive to pass on our genes to the next generation. Taking chances and trying out new things aren’t exactly conducive to that survival thing. As a result, mother nature has given us “fear”. It’s that little voice that says “don’t do it” that you hear when you want to try something new. Now ironically, the key to evolution and making the big steps is overcoming that voice and trying something new. Of course there’s always the chance that when you step out in the open, a big ole T-rex decides to have you as a snack (and yes I’m aware that humanoids and dinosaurs never existed side-by-side outside of Jurassic Park). The key to overcoming the fear is (i) to recognize it, (ii) to figure out what is driving it, (iii) to figure out just how bad it could be, and (iv) to realize that the potential change/gain far outweighs the risk.
With that in mind:
Have you taken the time to examine what’s behind your fears?
As always, thanks for the time.
Actions
For the last several days, my focus has been on values. And while I believe that values are foundational and a key to the success of both individuals and organizations, they are not worth a hoot unless they are reflected in actions. There is an expression that I have heard many times that applies perfectly to illustrate this point:
We judge ourselves based on our intentions, while others judge us based on our actions.
Behaviors reflect our true beliefs. Values (intentions) are things that can not be seen on their own: integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment, courage; but rather, are inferred based on the actions of INDIVIDUALS.
Notice that here I did NOT refer to the “actions” of a company/organization. A company does NOT “act” in a certain manner. Rather, it publishes a collection of norms (rules, processes, regulations, values, etc.) via formal and informal channels and then INDIVIDUALS within the company reward/recognize (i.e. takes an action) other individuals based on THEIR actions. The reality is that individual actions are the external manifestation of the values. Or, to pull out another oldie but goodie:
Actions speak louder than words
With that in mind:
What do your actions say about your values?
As always, thanks for the time.
Values: Courage
In my last four posts I highlighted the four values that one company (Caterpillar) has used as a framework to shape the behavior of an organization. More than an academic exercise, this “case study” is one that I lived for eighteen years. The values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, and commitment provided a vision for the behaviors the organization wanted to reinforce. Gather a collection of people who do the right thing, make sure they do those things to an exceedingly high standard, partner closely with each other, and ensure that follow through is a way of life for all of them. I can whole heartedly say that the organization does a great job teaching the framework, marketing it through out the organization, and — to a large degree — recognizing and rewarding behaviors that were consistent with the framework. That is why the company has been successful and will continue to be successful.
However, in my opinion, there is something missing. In particular, over time I noticed that the focus was shifting more and more to individual entities. The company seemed to be caring more about its well being versus the well being of the individuals; and, similarly, the individuals seemed to be caring more and more about their well being versus the companies. In my particular case, the sense of shared responsibility faded; and, as a result, we ended up parting ways. What was missing? What additional value could have been established and emphasized to create this sense of shared responsibility?
I present you with courage. While I have always been aware of the word, back in 2003 I had the privilege of meeting Sandra Ford Walston. If you head out in to the “google-sphere” you will see that Sandra’s area of focus is courage. She studies the concept in great depth and shares her thoughts and perspectives openly. She got me thinking. Lots. Over time, I developed — and adopted — a fifth value: courage. By incorporating that value in to my behaviors, I was able to perform — in my opinion — at a higher level. My definition is as follows:
Courage is the willingness to put ones self at risk for the betterment of others.
Circle back to the concept of shared responsibility. Suppose that we emphasize the behavior of putting ones self at risk for the betterment of others. What would happen if the company took risks for the good of the employees? What if the employees took risks for the good of the company? What if this behavior were recognized and rewarded? I’d offer that if you establish this fifth value, you end up with a stronger, more sustainable organization. Look at it another way. Where there’s risk, there’s normally reward.
With that in mind, today’s question:
What action will you take today that puts you at risk but helps those around you to learn, grow, or live better?
As always, thanks for the time.
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