Re: Essence LO212

Jim Campbell (hum_mgr03@hg.uleth.ca)
Thu, 23 Feb 1995 10:06:48 MST

Replying to LO135 --

The responses and comments on energy, commitment and consciousness are
very interesting. I have been set to respond a number of time buts
something said to wait, listen and reflect.

I know from personal contact and observations that there is a strong
commitment in most people. I gather from this that it is an expression a
life requirement. What one does with that force or energy base is usually
a matter of preference. I have a favorite story about my brother-in-law.
He has an energy level that places him in the upper 1% of the worlds
population, and a photographic memory to go with it. His view of the rest
is that they are lazy.

I have rarely found that to be the case. What I have found to be true is
that people including myself in varying degrees repeat experiences,
decision patterns, relearn things we have been already exposed to. If the
amount of repetitive behavior is high, the individual is more limited to
the possible responses and accomplishments in life and therefore are
viewed as lazy while leading very busy and complex life.

When we add preferences that vary from each other to this, the debate
begins. Why are you wasting your time doing THAT! That is a stupid
inconsiderate way to handle the problem! Hurray up and make a decision.
Slow down or the decison you make will require us to do it over.
Competition is the only thing. It can all be done with good accounting.
Inver=ntory control, Quality control. If we just followed a Total Quality
program eventhing would be better. Through these preferentially skewed
perspectives on the world we greet and we slash and burn at each other,
make wrong decision, trying to get a little understandable commitment and
energy THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE. If we are important in our positions and/or
accomplishments we tend and I clearly say only tend to be a little more
pushy about our own view or preference as the right one.

With a little learning I have found that recognizing the qualities in
others and learning to draw their strengths into the processes we are
involved in, higher levels of energy and commitment become quickly
visible. The human relations mechanisms that are ever present in all
organizations become stronger and the median of the bell curve of energy
and commitment takes a step in a positive productive direction.

To finish, I hear the continuing arguments and discussions in all of the
organizations and departments I work with and for. There are
operational/structural necessities that are a continuing focus of most
groups, often to the exclusion, "by preference" of the other side. The
other side is the human relations that are equally and at times more
important in an on-going operation. Where we wander into debate and
discussion is in the area of lack of learning, knowledge and understanding
of this latter co-requisite factor in organizational success. Business
schools and courses of study work hard on the operational/structural side
and not nearly as deep on the other.

Walt Kelly(1966) probably said it most succinctly in talking about the
human factor:

"Traces of nobility, gentlness and courage persist in all people, do what
we will to stamp out the trend. So, too, do those characteristics which
are ugly. It is just unfortunate that in the clumsy hands of a cartoonist
all traits become ridiculous, leading to a certian amount of
self-conscious expostulation and the desire to do battle.

There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things
which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand. Resolve
then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving and tinny blasts
on tiny trumpets, we shall meet the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he
may be us."

An organization is a complex of operational and human relationships.

Jim Campbell Email: Campbell@HG.ULeth.CA
Phone: (403) 329-2753 Fax: (403) 329-2685
Training & Development, Human Resources
University of Lethbridge
4401 University Dr., Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4

ENTP ---- Skipping Possibility Stones on the Continuum!!!