June 25, 6:55 am
The false comfort of cliches and stereotypes
Recently I came across a great quote from John F. Kennedy:
“Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion
without the discomfort of thought.”
Wow. Guilty. And so is everyone else! It’s easy to take a position on something when we hear it from someone else and it makes sense (on the surface) … or if it’s coming from someone we know and/or respect.
Thinking – the mental activity of processing and reasoning through information – is a lot of work! The brain expends a LOT of energy when it considers new options or goes past what is plainly seen to search out or investigate the implications of something. Any neuroscientist will tell you that thinking is an energy-intensive activity.
Problem: Sometimes we don’t (or won’t) put forth the effort required for true thinking. It’s why I like the JFK quote.
By the way, JFK’s quote in context (from a speech at Yale in June of 1962) reads as follows:
Too often we hold fast to the clichés of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. Mythology distracts us everywhere. For the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie: deliberate, contrived, and dishonest. But the myth: persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
I offer a question for you to “work” on –
To what workplace myth(s) have you subscribed?
In other words, what principles, practices, belief systems, or stereotypes have you adopted about your profession, your company, or your workplace that might not be true?
Taking actions based on erroneous beliefs (or ‘myths’, as Kennedy called them) can hurt progress — and profitability.
So again, what do you believe that simply might not be true?
Filed in Work, Motivation, Team Building, Workplace, Corporate Culture
Dan, this is a great question to ask especially during these times we live in.
In the Boise area we have seen news of layoffs at local companies and hear rumors of even more layoffs. I think the one myth that is often subscribed to is that employers don’t care about their employees and they reduce staff because they are greedy - they don’t want to pay the overhead, the wages or benefits and would rather keep the money for themselves.
On the contrary, I don’t think any company enjoys cutting staff. It generates negative press no matter which way they frame it and it signals that they are having financial troubles in some way shape or form. It’s almost like having your hand forced to show your cards on the table while you are still in the game. What business ever wants to do that in a competitive environment?
Unfortunately, I have been guilty of believing this myth. Since running my own business, I understand how the world of business works and I understand why companies have to cut staff from time to time. Believe me, it has nothing to do with greed and has more to do with survival.
Justin -
You make a great point that many who’ve never been business owners could take to heart. Until one has “sat in the driver’s seat,” one really doesn’t understand the thought processes one goes thru in the decisions being made.
It’s so easy to be an armchair quarterback.
Although I have concerns about “some” executives, by-and-large, I think your observations are spot on.
- Dan