I came across a great video from the Cabrera Research Lab that deals with thinking. It stated, “Thinking is how we build meaning from information” and understanding how we think helps us to be better at whatever it is that we do. It encouraged the viewer to pay attention to how we think and to actually think about thinking! This may seem obvious, but we all have been in situations in a meeting at work or in a discussion at home where we or someone else speaks before they think, or worse, acts before they think. A myriad of problems arise when we don’t take the moment to consider how our words or actions help or hinder what we’re trying to accomplish. Unfiltered words can actually cause more harm than good.
We live in a culture that demands authenticity. Being “authentic” has become an overused buzzword by people who, all too often, hide behind it as an excuse to be rude, combative, and disrespectful to others. I am not advocating remaining silent when an important issue needs to be discussed, however, in my opinion, reactionary language and aggressive behavior does not make one more authentic, they only show that they have bad manners and little regard for others. There is even the trend in organizations in which discussion of policy and practices are encouraged to be aggressive and “in the face” of teammates. My view is that this does more harm to the relationships of the team than it helps in the accomplishment of the mission. At some point, we must remember that people are an organization’s most valuable asset. Everyone, whether we agree with them or not, must be treated with respect.
As you lead today, think about the way you think about the people around you. Think about the ramifications of the words and tone you use with others and think about how you would feel if they used the same words and tone with you. Organizational discussions should not be a free-for-all of people trying to have their idea win. Sometimes the best ideas are those that are spoken through a mature and respectful messenger who thinks.
Lead well.