I like it when I find that simple phrase that captures a theme that I have been thinking about. I am not looking for something cheesy or simply cliché, but a statement that really gets to the heart of an idea and makes it easier to remember and to communicate. As some of you know I am on the board of a school here in Calgary that seeks to address the needs of children on the autistic spectrum. A number of weeks ago we held our annual strategic planning day; it included a number of significant topics, topics that will determine our course for the coming years. As we were going over some initial material to get us focused our executive director made the comment that people of goodwill and like-mind can accomplish a great deal. “People of goodwill and like mind…” is now one of those simple phrases for me.
‘People of goodwill’ suggests to me something akin to ‘negotiating in good faith’. I am sure that phrase can mean different things to different people, but to me it is about an honest attempt at getting something done that reflects the interests and values of all of those involved. It is often easier said than done. It takes a certain amount of self-awareness and the ability to set self-interest aside to some degree for the sake of another’s interests.
Of ‘like-mind’ can be tricky. There is an important balance between having everyone on the same page while allowing for – and even encouraging – the dissenting voice or view. I have commented on this balance a number of times and in a number of different ways in the past. It can be a hard concept to capture, but somehow the best teams and organizations find a way to create a ‘we’re all moving in the same direction’ emphasis while not falling into the trap of group think.
Both of these elements are vital in building an exceptional team or creating a great place to work; and neither of them is possible if the people involved really do not want them to happen. It starts with sincere effort and desire – on everyone’s part. If you do not want to be a part of a great team or are not willing to invest in the things that make up a great team – then it simply will not happen. The same can be said for creating a great place to work, which is built around respectful behaviours. This will only happen when all involved want it to happen and work towards it as a common goal. As usual, it is not the easiest work to do, but can be very rewarding.
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Just The Right Phrase
‘People of goodwill’ suggests to me something akin to ‘negotiating in good faith’. I am sure that phrase can mean different things to different people, but to me it is about an honest attempt at getting something done that reflects the interests and values of all of those involved. It is often easier said than done. It takes a certain amount of self-awareness and the ability to set self-interest aside to some degree for the sake of another’s interests.
Of ‘like-mind’ can be tricky. There is an important balance between having everyone on the same page while allowing for – and even encouraging – the dissenting voice or view. I have commented on this balance a number of times and in a number of different ways in the past. It can be a hard concept to capture, but somehow the best teams and organizations find a way to create a ‘we’re all moving in the same direction’ emphasis while not falling into the trap of group think.
Both of these elements are vital in building an exceptional team or creating a great place to work; and neither of them is possible if the people involved really do not want them to happen. It starts with sincere effort and desire – on everyone’s part. If you do not want to be a part of a great team or are not willing to invest in the things that make up a great team – then it simply will not happen. The same can be said for creating a great place to work, which is built around respectful behaviours. This will only happen when all involved want it to happen and work towards it as a common goal. As usual, it is not the easiest work to do, but can be very rewarding.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 at 10:52 am and is filed under Comments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.