Image Credit: Goofy bill graffiti by Hrag Vartanian used via CC BY-ND 2.0
Your Company Wants You to Be Awesome
Your company wants you to be awesome. Trust me, they do. I'm a manager in a large company and I want 100% of my employees to be awesome. And by awesome I mean being so good you continuously amaze those around you.
Your company does not want a gaggle of cookie cutter automatons blindly following orders and doing whatever is requested. That can be achieved through software automation. Instead, your company needs an environment where a diverse mix of thoughts, opinions and skills come together into a beautiful synthesis.
Power and resiliency lies within diverse thinking and acting.
Is that a cliché? Yes. But is it true? Absolutely!
Your uniqueness is what adds to the mix. Remember, if someone in your company thinks and acts just like you, why does your company need you?
“Remember, if someone in your company thinks and acts just like you, why does your company need you?”
If you have a great idea, don’t hold it in. Find a colleague and start brainstorming to make it better! Don’t hesitate to show your uniqueness, differentness, or even weirdness. I give you permission to be your own person, and in turn, give permission to those around you to freely be themselves.
Magic happens when diverse sets of opinions crash together and emerge greater than they started. Like iron sharpening iron, a well-functioning team of unique individuals is truly more valuable than the sum of each working alone.
Allowing people to think and act differently may pop the false illusion of “unity” and “power” that comes with being surrounded by people similar to you. And yes, that will likely feel uncomfortable in the beginning. But in times of fast change and massive disruptions, it’s best to take a cue from biology: resiliency through diversity is a powerful asset for your company.
So please, from the bottom of my heart, embrace your uniqueness, and encourage your employees to do the same! Your company will thank you for it.
Take care and I'll talk to you next time.