After a significant day with fantastic outcomes it is easy to resort to babble in my reflection on the day rather than a purposeful discourse. I will try to remain crisp and to the point, hopefully without baffling the key message of this entry.
I had a serious discussion with a staff member where I had to discuss bad quality of work. My intent was to make it a constructive discussion. I focused on listening as much as on directing. The outcome of the discussion was positive due to me staying calm and not getting emotionally involved. Something said might sound bagatelle when one is focused too much on yor own words and too little on listening. Such an attitude can lead to serious misconceptions and I trust I not only directed but also listened sincerely.
I went to a meeting with Internal audit in my company who made some baleful finding in their report. Our management team challenged some of the audit findings. The moment we walked into the room there as an air of animosity. My attempt of badinage was unsuccessful at first to defuse the tension and the cross accusation of one part to the other. I manage to arrest the situation by cautioning everybody to com back to the basic facts. “Play the ball not the man” was my attitude. The calm voice of reason seemed to have been effective in giving direction to the team and which led to an outcome of common agreement for steps going forward.
My own performance was assessed by my manager, who was very gracious with giving me good performance scores. Rather than just accepting the performance scores I argued my scores downward. Simply because I refused to attach my ego to the scores and to look at the performance from a clinical point. At point where I truly believed that I could have done better I could not accept scores that does not match my own conscience and standards. In the end I do not know whether it would be politically the correct thing to do but I have to answer foremost to my own conscience. My true performance is barefaced before my conscience.
Those are the three events I wanted to reflect upon in this writing tonight.
In a course on strategy which I am doing the lecturer said two important things. The first was that change happens continuously but perception of change is discreet. The second was that the implication is that change must always happen twice to be successful. Both these are concept that warrants further contemplation.
zeal4living
It seems to me that your major asset is your honesty. In your public life, especially in your dealings with your government, honesty, while sometimes difficult, really is always the best policy.
I had a close friend (now unfortunately deceased – after a long and productive life) whose father was a very important figure in his country’s government – he effectively controlled all the purchasing done by a central American nation. When I asked my friend how his father got such an important position, he laughed and said “He is the only completely honest member of the government”.
My friend also practiced the policy of complete honesty as did the stoic philosopher Epictitus – one of the most important moral philosophers who ever lived.
Sounds like you were firing on all cylinders today! Your last paragraph resonates with me especially … I think I may have to experience change multiple times, not just twice! 😉