Re: Kids on Teamwork LO3033

Julie Beedon (julie@vistabee.win-uk.net)
Mon, 02 Oct 1995 14:12:56

Replying to LO2882 --

Maria Ivancic in LO2882 said

>>>It seems to me there is another lesson in this lovely vignette for us, and
>>>that is that somewhere, deep inside every adult, is the intuitive child
>>>that KNOWS the truth and reacts appropriately to those situations where a
>>>manager says something like " We're going to change this organisation into
>>>one that has participatory management. You are hereby empowered", but
>>>REALLY means " Let's see if THIS will screw more productivity out of you
>>>so that we can then fire half of you."
>
>Working in an organisation where this is EXACTLY how people seem to
>interpret any such management moves, I am wondering how to overcome this
>obstacle. I'm not sure sometimes whether people really believe that loss
>of jobs will naturally result, or if the cynicism is a knee-jerk reaction
>that they perform out of habit. When you've been through TQM, BPR &
>performance improvement programs (the latter really did result in job
>cuts), it is virtually impossible to try and tell people that this time it
>will be different - you can see the smirk on their face as you talk to
>them!!
>
>Perhaps anyone who has experienced this hurdle might like to share what
>strategies they found successful.

This whole kids on Teamwork discussion has really started to throw
up some thoughts for me.....

Is there something about the way kids come to things (I mean
before the intrinsic motivation has been replaced by cynicism - can
we get them that young) I suppose what I am saying is is there an
extent to which they have more of a tendency:

1. To be curious?
2. Not to expect duplicity?
3. To ask questions without wondering how it will make them look?
4. To listen to the answers
5. To ask more questions?
6. To be capable of awe and wonder - and to relish the potential or
possibiliites in a given situation (like a trip to a quite tacky
amusement park) etc...........

The statement " We're going to change this organisation into
>>>one that has participatory management. You are hereby
empowered" could have been made:
a) by somebody who really meant it
b) by somebody who wanted to "screw more productivity out of you so
that we can then fire half of you."

would the intuitive child recognise the difference?

Possibly they would if:

1. You were acting as if you meant it
2. Some of the things you did signalled that things were really
different this time (show rather than tell)
3. You weren't trying to talk yourself out of a situation you
behaved yourself into
4. You were being honest about things

My experience with the 'flavour of the month' type of cycnicism is that
you need to be curious (as a child might be) as to the reasons why people
have become cynical - what are the symbols which remind them to be
cynical. Share with as many people as possible the widest possible
database of strategic information and acknowledge the clearly conflicting
realities which are part of the overall system. Asking them to join with
you in making sense of all of the confusion is incredibly empowering -
review with them the previous initiatives - below the cynicism there may
be elements they valued.


Finally from a personal point of view on the whole question of 'questions'
- in my early days as a facilitator I learnt that questions were 'the
answer' and I asked lots (of clever ones). People reacted defensively and
I wrote them off as anti-learning. Feedback on my style and some other
learning helped me to make an amazing discovery - if I only asked
questions when I didn't understand or was genuinely curious to find out
the answer and if I showed I had listened when I asked - people were ready
to be open and honest in their replies and less defensive. I am learning
now how to reframe the questions if replies become defensive by assuming
that everyone is working from good intentions and to be clear about why I
am asking them - people often say they find the questions hard but they
seem ready to answer them - and sometimes reflect they were amazed that we
listened.

--
Julie Beedon
julie@vistabee.win-uk.net
VISTA Associates - consulting for a better future