Thinking in Hypotheticals

07/06/2005

It's difficult to unlearn behaviors that made us successful in the past — speaking rather than listening; valuing people like yourself over people of different genders or from different cultures; doing things on your own rather than collaborating; making the decision yourself instead of asking different people for their perspectives. There's a whole range of behaviors that were highly functional in the hierarchical organization that are dead wrong in the flatter, more responsive, empowered organization that we're seeking to become.
Robert Haas

In his book, Never Wrestle with a Pig (New York: Penguin Books, 2000), Mark McCormack suggests that when you are at an impasse in your job, to ask these questions of yourself to get to thinking clearly:

* If you could have anybody's job at your company, which one would you take?

* If you could work for anyone in your organization, who would it be?

* If you could eliminate the most time-consuming part of your job, would you miss it?

* If you could erase your biggest flaw, would anyone notice?

* If you could assemble a board of directors that existed only to guide and advise you, who would be on it?

* If you were offered your job today, would you still take it?

To work with your staff to creatively address a problem in your center, check out the Exchange book, The Anti-Ordinary Thinkbook at:
https://secure.ccie.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4000425

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