Re: Handling Power and Politics LO2424

Stella Humphries (hum068@hrb.csiro.au)
Wed, 16 Aug 1995 17:11:04 +1000

Replying to LO2409 --

Dear David,

I began a reply to John Peters but found it was taking me too long at this
time to answer so many statements of consequence with which I disgreed
(strongly). The core issues you raised and your responses, are very much
aligned with mine. I want to thank you for taking the time to challenge
John's assertions as you spoke for me and hopefully for others. Key points
in my view are the "be true to thyself" value is of the essence if we are
to lead fulfilling lives and have a society that is life enhancing (or
whatever way that sentiment can be described). It may take a great deal
of internal power (self mastery!) to have the courage to do that but it is
a pre-condition of an authentic life and all that that implies. It is
essential that those of us committed to change don't accept the way org.
*are* but work toward what they *can be* (as you point out). And yes,
people do for many reasons subsume their core values or perhaps are not in
touch with them - but aren't we through LO principles (in this forum
anyway and to echo David) attempting to raise individual and
organisational awareness to support comittment to the common human values
- such as integrity, honesty etc.? And further, isn't it our
responsibility to generate counterbalances to the current systems which
lead people to sacrificing deeply held values?

There is a book called Modern Maddness by a psychotherpiast ( I forget the
name but can follow it up if anyone is interested) written in the 1980's
that addresses the serious personal consequences he uncovered among his
(externally successful) clients who worked in organisations whose values
were divergent to their own. It is a distressing phenomenon which he
claims has been given very scant attention within the psychology
community.

And for the record, I too evaluate my goals at least every year and these
change because one year I may value a different set of circumstances - but
my "core" values don't change. So we need to keep the distinction between
core beliefs and values and the rest. Looking back 1O years ago when I
was in the midst of a classical research career, I valued reason, analysis
etc. extremely highly - now I value intuitive capacities - and a balance
between the two...but I don't think my values about honesty, integrity,
compassion etc, have changed over the span of my life.

So thanks David & and it spurred me on to write more than I intended in
your support. Stella

--
Dr. Stella E. Humphries,
CSIRO Corporate Centre
POBox 225 Dickson, ACT 2602
Australia
Phone: 61-6-276 6172
Fax: 61-6-276 6688