What I Have Learned In Business
I fancy myself a Critical Thinker. I like to question things, look at issues from different angles, play devils advocate, and to use an overused cliche, "think outside the box." In my job, my responsibilities deal with fairly black and white compliance issues. But in my role as management I like to encourage employees to think and explore possibilities. Not only for thier own growth, but for the occasional elusive idea that could help us all grow our quarterly bonuses.
But.....
Corporations really don't want employees who can think critically. Critical thinking causes them to question company policies, procedures and direction. Rather they want an employee who can implement policy as directed, no questions asked. Employee wants or needs an answer, management gives it in the form of policy, and then said employee enforces policy. So as much as a company is interested in employee involvement, has open door policies, etc, their ideal employees would be robots.
And so it goes......
Comments
Brent, most people don't even know how to merge...much less think.
Posted by: paige | September 26, 2006 07:41 PM
My first corporate lesson was to learn how to use buzz words like "think outside the box." My second lesson was that nobody in management gives a shit about the meaning of the buzz words and thinking outside the box is the last thing anyone wants.
Posted by: Joe | September 26, 2006 08:44 PM
A favorite at my work is "Value Added." As in "would it be value added to have this person speak at our meeting?" Bagels and doughnuts are the only things that "add value" to meetings.
Posted by: Brent | September 26, 2006 09:18 PM