#40 Our Collective Consciousness

Last week I caught a snippet of a television show on which Deeprok Chopra was appearing. Deeprok Chopra is a trained Indian medical doctor who is also a writer and speaker on a myriad of topics including the mind-body connection.  He was discussing "collective consciousness"*.  It is a perfect descriptor for what is going on all around us.


Chopra believes that "the world is as we are". He further states all of the social and economic injustice, environmental degradation, and the dysfunction of our politics and institutions are all a reflection of our collective consciousness.  We as a society project our mores onto everything we do.  Thus we see examples of these norms in the television shows that we watch, the bickering and fighting we witness daily by our politicians -- everything is about who is going to win, not what is good for us as a whole or what is good for this country.  And I believe he is right on.


I want to provide two very subtle examples of this ME vs. WE collective consciousness. Both are holiday commercials.  The first one is a Kohl's advertisement for Black Friday.  It shows a happy, singing young woman in a crowd outside of Kohl's waiting for the store to open.  When the door opens she puts her hand up to "stop" an older woman from entering before her.  She walks in, grabs a cart, continues merrily along  putting things into her cart -- she evens grabs something out of someone's else's cart -- to that person's stunned amazement.  She breezes through her shopping and checks out.  The Kohl's shopping experience has been a piece of cake.


The second one is an Audi commercial.  The parents watch as their son drives up to their house for a holiday visit in a very spiffy new Audi.  As he walks through a different door into the house, he calls out to his parents that he is home.  Meanwhile the parents book out the front door and decide to take a "joy" ride in his car - thus leaving him there looking bewildered. 

Are these commercials cute and funny?  I think not -- but I believe that Kohl's and Audi thought so.... Do I really want to see some self centered young woman thinking that she can just disrespect others and take what she wants?  And those parents, do I really want to know that they are so self centered that they would rather go drive a car than greet their son? Which makes me ask again, what is it that we collectively care about? 

Our collective consciousness has allowed for these very self-centered kinds of commercials -- it is the Me vs. WE mentality, which has created a lot of chaos and instability in our country.  The good news is that according to Chopra there is an opportunity to change our collective consciousness and it all starts with each and every one of us.  

To be continued in the new year -- but for now -- HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!!!!

* A term coined by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) to refer to the shared beliefs and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society.

#39 Anyway....thoughts this Holiday Season

A couple of weeks ago someone asked my why I was writing this blog.  I told her that I had a lot to say about a variety of  things.  By the look on her face I could tell she was probably thinking something like the following:  (1) you are retired, (2) why do you care, (3) what if nobody reads them, and (4) why waste your time?  If she had asked me further about those thoughts, my answer to her would have been that even if very few people read them, I HAVE to write them anyway -- it is about me getting my voice out into the universe, just in case someone IS reading and needs to hear what I have to say.

And as the universe will have it -- a couple days later, I came across this poem while I was cleaning out my office.  It spoke to me and I hope it speaks to you.  

                                                Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

                        Love them anyway.

If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.

                        Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you may win false friends

                        And true enemies.

                        Succeed anyway.

Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.

                        Be honest and transparent anyway.

What you spend year’s building may be destroyed overnight,

                        Build anyway.

People who really want help may attack you if you help them.

                        Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.

                        Give the world your best anyway.

  

                                                            -- Author Unknown

My wish for you this holiday season is to be your best, give your best to your friends and family (and I am not talking monetary things) and give the best of yourself to you -- help others, appreciate all the riches you have, be happy and have a joy filled time!

Happy Holidays!!

#38 Freedom of Speech -- Appreciation for the First Amendment

Yesterday was the 220th anniversary of the First Amendment -- guaranteeing the right of free speech.  How better  for us to understand that we are free than to be able to speak to our concerns, and voice our opinions or thoughts.  It is our right to contribute to our governance, without interference, and to speak out about the good and the bad.

The citizens of Middle Eastern countries have been fighting and dying to gain these rights -- the Arab Spring has been upon us for a while.  But we in the United States have had this right since the early formation of this nation --- but have we appreciated that right?  As I believe the citizens from the deep south would say -- up until the last 40-50 years it has all just been lip service.

I am beginning to believe that freedom of speech in most of our institutions, governmental or otherwise, is just that -- lip service.  One could ask themselves, why would you pay top leaders within  governmental institutions to just be "yes" men, cronies, if you will, with the top boss.  And I guess if I were one of those "cronies" I would have to say "why not?"  I am getting paid well to do practically nothing as long as I go along with everything that the boss wants.  It is really no skin off of my nose...but is that really true?

The older I get the more I understand each time we give up something of ourselves, we begin to lose who we are -- something is taken away from our person.  At first it seems so innocent, but after a while, all of us who have done varying degrees of giving in, begin to be so far removed from ourselves we don't know who we are any more.  It is like being in fog for so long (years) and then suddenly the fog lifts and you look in the mirror and don't recognize yourself anymore.

Another thing that that I have figured out over the years is that when you have something -- something as seemingly simple of being able to voice an opinion, you do not appreciate it -- you take it for granted.  But when you lose it, you miss it more that anything.  You always want what you don't have.  It's funny how life is that way.

Let's not take our First Amendment right for granted -- take an assessment -- are you really free to voice your opinion?  Do you get talked down to, talked over, or outright dismissed?  If you do -- and we all do from time to time -- maybe it's time to think about that First Amendment and decide if it is worth fighting for -- maybe it is the most important thing to fight for -- the you in you depends upon it.

#37 Leadership Redux

Let's face it folks -- we have a leadership deficient -- I am not sure we would recognize a real leader if we met one -- we would think they were an alien creature.  But just to refresh all of our collective memories, I offer the following poem -- Enjoy!

On Leadership


Leadership is an invisible strand
As mysterious as it is powerful.  It pulls and it bonds.
It is a catalyst that creates unity out of disorder.
Yet it defies definition.  No combination
of talents can guarantee it.  No process or training
can create it where the spark does not exist.

The qualities of leadership are universal:
They are found in the poor and the rich, the humble
and the proud, the common man, and the brilliant
thinker; they are qualities that suggest paradox
rather than pattern.  But wherever they are found
leadership makes things happen.

The most precious and intangible quality
of leadership is trust -- the confidence that the one
who leads will act in the best interest of those
who follow -- the assurance that s/he will serve the group
without sacrificing the rights of the individual.

Leadership's imperative is a "sense of rightness"
knowing when to advance and when to pause, when
to criticize and when to praise, how to encourage others
to excel.  From the leader's reserves of energy
and optimism, his followers draw strength.  In her
determination and self-confidence, they find inspiration.

In its highest sense, leadership is integrity.
This command by conscience asserts itself more
by commitment and example than by directive.  Integrity
recognizes external obligations, but heeds
the quiet voice within, rather than the clamor without.

Source:  Educet

#36 Giving Thanks

This past Thanksgiving I spent  time taking stock of the many reasons I have to be thankful.  Like everyone I have had the ups and downs and good and bad times of life--losing love ones is always hard, but mostly I have lived a very bountiful life -- so far -- and who knows what the rest of it will bring.

I hope all of you can say the same.  I had a varied career in state government and for the last  twenty years I was fortunate to have a job that I loved -- challenging and varied, working with coworkers that I liked and respected.  I felt so lucky to work in a very supportive, progressive and collegial environment where I had a voice.

Having a voice is important.  We all want to be heard, we all want to believe that we matter, and we all want to think that we have something meaningful to contribute to our workplace -- why else would we have been hired (we ask ourselves).  But do workers these days really have an opportunity to contribute with their voice, their talents, or are they just instructed from above and told what to do?  Being directed to do something in a certain way without any thought does not lead an employee to feel valued.

What has happened?   We thought our comfortable middle class lifestyle, with good paying jobs, would last forever.  We thought this country would always remain strong and American corporations, government institutions and political leaders all had our collective best interests at heart.  We just assumed they would take care of us.  We forgot that not so long ago others who came before  had to win hard fought battles for equal opportunity, good jobs with decent pay, safe working conditions and fair treatment at work -- supposedly a merit system in government.  We became complacent --  yet we expected all of these rights and liberties to last forever.

Nothing lasts forever unless we stand up and demand it.  It is just human nature.  While no one was paying attention, those who could  got greedy; they thought only of themselves first -- higher salaries, bonuses, bigger pensions, and lavish houses -- these are all part of the deal.  Their ego demands it.  And they will conspire with others and compromise everything just to get what they want -- the end justifies the means.

The saying that "bad can only happen when good people do nothing" is so true.  So as we head into the holiday season my wish for all of you is that you will reflect on the things that you are thankful for and find the resolve to be willing to fight for them.  We need to ensure that our children have things be thankful for on the future Thanksgivings of their lives -- so that they too can live a bountiful life.

#35 Pruning the Vine

When I say "pruning the vine" I mean disciplining those "bad actor" employees that deserve to be disciplined.   It means getting rid of the deadwood just as you would with a plant.  Pruning brings renewed life and vigor to a plant and promotes healthy growth.  "Pruning" can also be a very positive thing for an organization and all of its employees.

Sometimes the "pruning" can be drastic and sometimes it can be a snip here and a snip there --- if it is well thought out and done fairly -- it can be essential to maintaining a good healthy workplace.   If numerous interactive dialogues have taken place between supervisor and employee and clear expectations for this employee have been set, and the employee is just are not able or willing to change, then for the health of the organization the employee needs to be dealt with.

Other good employees who watch and work with the "bad actor" employee begin to feel great frustration.  They ask themselves and others why are they working so hard when so and so is not.  If the "bad actor" employee is not dealt with, after a fashion they begin to question management and start to think that no one is paying attention and that no one cares -- all of this leads to an organization with bad morale.

In state government especially it is often said, "It is so hard to do anything to employees -- labor unions and all.... you know".  Well I am here to tell you, that is absolutely not the case.  While it is a lot of work to put together an adverse action and deal with the potential subsequent hearings, it can be well worth a department's while.  The employer will either get the attention of the employee to let him/her know that they are serious; then the employee can decide between two choices -- s/he can either "clean up their act" or s/he can continue the bad performance/conduct and eventually earn him/herself an exit from state government.

Not only that, if the "bad actor" is dealt with, it sends a very positive message to everyone that someone is paying attention (and cares).  This is a good message for everyone  in the organization -- it also telegraphs to everyone in the organization that they too may need to "clean up their act".

While dismissal of an employee, of any tenure, is always a difficult decision, sometimes it is the only choice.  "Pruning the vine" in an honest and fair manner will help promote a healthy organization and a positive and energized workforce.

#34 Managing to Strengths

So you think you hired yourself the perfect employee.  You are feeling so good about this person that you know you it will be smooth sailing from here on out.  But pretty soon you begin to notice that while s/he performs some duties really well, there are other things that s/he does that are not so great...Oh no, you say!  What am I to do now?

You are going to have to attempt to fix this employee's shortcomings -- right?   This will include having the dreaded "talk" with the employee.  Never a fun thing. I am sure the talk will go something like this, "(name), while you do this really well, I am noticing you are not doing these other things quite up to par".  From the employee's perspective s/he hears, "I am doing this whatever really well", and feels good for a moment.  However, when the but word comes out of your mouth, the employee hears nothing else.  From the employee's viewpoint all s/he can think is "Oh here it comes again", and all s/he hears is "blah..., blah..., blah."  Just like in the Charlie Brown cartoon specials.

This attempt to change the shortcomings in an employee seems logical, but does it work?  The fact of the matter is that individuals who are not good at something, typically are never going to get much better.  You can spend countless hours talking, fretting and sending employees to additional training classes.  If someone does not have the talent, ability or motivation, they will never be particularly good at that task(s).

A few years back in a book titled "The Strengths Finder", it was suggested that managers focus on an employee's strengths.  If you emphasis his/her strengths and allow the employee to continue to learn and get better at what they do best, all of you will be much happier and productive.  The thought is to supplement his/her talents with another employee who is strong in the area that the first employee is not so good in.  It creates a win-win situation  for both employees, and ultimately for you, the manager, too!

So try managing to strengths and quit spending so much time on an effort that will bring little if any rewards.  No more dreaded "talks" -- you and your employee will be very pleased with the results!