Helping Ordinary People Accomplish Extraordinary Things
In discussing the final set of value orientation pairs, we turn our attention to the tension between the amount of order and structure we want in our lives-a choice between hedonism and hierarchy. The Free Spirit The essential value theme for the Free Spirit is hedonism. Many people think that the term hedonism carries with …
Free Spirit and the Police Officer: Hedonism and Hierarchy Read More »
Today, we discuss the tension that exists between the past and the future. The Tradition and Creativity dimension explores how we retain the lessons of history and precedent while still striking out new ground by embracing innovation and change. The Stone Cutter The Stone Cutter is the builder that has based his craft on his …
The Stone Cutter and the Inventor: Tradition and Creativity Read More »
On average, the first dozen years of being a manager, most people are given inadequate guidance. We need to do a better job helping our leaders succeed.
As our political season begins to ramp up, some folks may find this value orientation pair to be particularly interesting. The Gift Giver and Jester, each driven by humility and face, illustrate a fundamental tension that exists among aspiring leaders that touches on influence, optics, and impact. Gift Giver The Gift Giver works to bring …
The Gift Giver and the Jester: Humility and Face Read More »
As we continue to examine the six fundamental value pairs, today we explore values at work. The Farmer and The Olympian describe how we approach work, how we evaluate our performance, and how we gain and retain motivation. The Farmer The Farmer toils day after day in the fields to cultivate a generous bounty to …
Values at Work. The Farmer and the Olympian: Stewardship versus Achievement Read More »
The reason the underdog overcomes the advantaged is because we fail to realize that power is an illusion. In the biblical story of David and Goliath the power dynamics have much to teach us about leadership. A Misunderstood Story Malcolm Gladwell, in his excellent Book, David and Goliath, makes the critical point that our contemporary …
As we continue with the six fundamental value pairs, we move to the disagreement over truth. But truth is never as simple as fact. We see this debate over truth manifested in a huge swath of critical areas of life–from a debate over western rationalism to eastern mysticism, from the scientific method to post-modern philosophy, …
The Shaman and the Scientist: Holism vs. Rationalism Read More »
As we begin to explore the six fundamental value pairs, we start with one that is well established in literature–the dichotomy of individualism and collectivism. In terms of archetypes, I have labeled these groups Hermits and Healers. The Hermit The Hermit is an individual who above all wants to live life on his or her …
The Hermit and the Healer: The Individualism/Collectivism Dimension Read More »
Heroes and Villains We all see ourselves as the hero in our story. Simple minds cast others as the villain. The moment you come to believe that you unquestionably occupy the moral high ground is the moment you have lost it. Dehumanization of your opponent is easy. Understanding them is difficult, but it’s the only …
Business Ethics is about helping customers to make the choices in their best interest. Are you making their lives better? Cake Mix Several years ago, I watched the excellent four-part BBC documentary “The Century of the Self”. In one episode, the topic of public relations and market research was addressed. Following World War II, there …
Business Ethics: Freeing People or Crippling Them? Read More »