Critical Thinking, Personal Reality, and the way we conduct ourselves
For decades corporations and businesses around the world have altered the way people interact. They have defined through political bureaucracy that meetings are places where nothing is accomplished, good ideas are ignored and the important creativity and independence within us is discarded in favor of political hierarchy. The power of individual thought and creative excellence has been discarded for the constant paycheck and mechanical corporate well being.
This is not how we want to live our lives. Sharing our ideas and passion with one another is essential to our very being. By not relaying our thoughts to the people we see on a daily basis, we are not interacting with them. We are treating them like transparent obstacles that hinder our own personal goals. The reality to this situation is that the very obstacles we view them as would not only move themselves if they new better- but that they may aid us in our own personal path and that we in return can aid them in reaching their goals as well.
Take heed friends.
Think * Communicate * Innovate
1. We are not machines. We breathe and feel. We imagine and dream. We have inspiration and aspiration.
2. Meetings are not places of declaration and presentation. They are places where humans of equal and unique knowledge can share ideas and apply innovative group thinking to a topic.
3. Group thinking is superior from individual thinking. It benefits from the realization and application of entire lifetimes worth of talent and experience.
4. Anyone who is part of the meeting is fundamentally important.
5. Being important as individuals, any idea they have is worthwhile to the group.
6. Looking someone in the eye and telling them what you really think of the idea is the most powerful tool you can offer.
7. Honesty of thought should not be mistaken as a motivation for support or dislike. Everything has pros and cons.
8. Being honest to those within the group is the only way you can be honest to yourself.
9. When asked for your opinion- put forth your mind, your feelings and your heart. We are all human and these things are part of every one of us.
10. Look at the faces of those you are speaking with.
11. The expression on their faces may not be what they feel.
12. Whatever you are talking about may not be the most important thing everyone needs to address. Everyone is human. Aside from business we all have personal lives.
13. Ask questions. Never take silence as a form of agreeance. People who are silent are following the lead of whoever is speaking. Make them talk. Ask them how they feel.
14. Recall what meetings were like when you were six years old. Our imagination and the power to think outside of the box are tools that many of us left behind with our childhood.
15. We want people to understand our ideas. Each of us is going to view the scene from a different angle and it's vital that we all try to understand those unique perspectives.
16. Discussion is vital to understanding the entire picture. We all have questions. Don't treat your friends, your co-workers and your associates like idiots.
17. Businesses that tell people what to think don't want meetings. They want lecture halls and servants. If you respect an employee- you will listen to what they have to say.
18. Anonymous comment boxes shouldn't be needed. You should treat employees like people and not slaves. They shouldn't fear repercussions from giving an opinion.
19. Since when did working for a company mean that you had to keep the ideas you value most quiet?
20. We don't want to have to form a special team to utilize a good idea. We understand that productivity is a good thing and we all want our careers to have a bright future.
21. Stop telling good people what to do and you may find out what great people can do.
22. If you ask a question. Don't expect the truth. Demand it and don't penalize us for telling everyone how it is.
23. Every time we get together in a meeting and you give us fluff, we simply leave thinking about the truth of the situation and what is being hidden.
24. All the secrets in our business aren't secrets. Five different people have told us versions of the same story. If you can't treat us with honesty, realize this is the fundamental reason our respect for you is faltering.
25. Meetings don't have to be boring. We are people- not constructs. Encourage us to laugh and be happy and we'll show you how to survive the worse of times.
26. United we stand. There is power in understanding one another and supporting our common goals as a single entity. Placing a select few above the unit rather than as part of a cohesive team jeopardizes the cohesiveness of the group.
27. When we sit in the same room together we are a community of people. We are not business people, just people. Talk to us as such.
28. We don't like wasting our time anymore than you do. Tell us what you need and let us tell you what we need. Cooperation and teamwork require communication.
29. Meetings are between people and as such, we want to voice our concerns and our thoughts to other people. We don't want to have a policy tell us how our ideas should be voiced and whether or not they are important enough to hear.
30. When we say something to you, listen to it and ponder the meaning we are conveying. Our actual voice may be subtle, but we are willing to scream our ideas from the rooftop if needed.
