Asking the Hard Questions
October 21st, 2008
WORD COUNT: 467 Short, yet oh so Empowering Words
TIME to GROW: * About 2 MINUTES *
With all of the business and economic issues reported recently, it seems that we side-step the hard questions far too often.
Maybe we have too much on our minds. Perhaps, getting people, purpose, process and profits aligned is daunting enough, without jumping into the issues that truly need our attention.
Yet the first step in resolving any problem, and in improving any situation, must begin with asking the tough questions, even when we may not like the answers.
When a policy doesn’t make sense, do you follow it anyway, or do you ask why?
If a program doesn’t satisfy your customers’ needs, would you turn away, or pause and assess the underlying assumptions to see if they are correct?
When behaviors aren’t in the best interest of your business, would you, or those who work with you, move forward anyway?
Too often we humans fall into the trap of thinking that someone must know better than we do, or maybe someone else is asking the hard questions. But this is the very thinking that led to the issues we’re currently experiencing in the Mortgage Industry. It is this type of thinking that led to the Enron and Wall street scandals, and the current state of our economy. All of which could have been avoided, if a few people had the courage to ask the hard questions.
Don’t we all have responsibility for ourselves, and to those who place their trust in us, to investigate policies and behaviors that don’t appear to be in the best interests of the communities in which we work?
Too often we fall prey to group think, and don’t vocalize concerns that are quite valid. Instead, too many people push forward knowing that their actions aren’t aligned with the desired outcome, or the best interests of the organization, or customers they serve.
Perhaps it’s time to stop thinking that someone else knows better than we do.
It’s time to ask the hard questions. For when we do, we may find that there are many others, who also want to do the right thing, who also want to leave the world better than they found it.
In fact, we may find that there are far more people who value integrity, purpose and collaborative problem-solving, than the few who wish to profit, solely at the expense of others.
Yet we can only improve the communities and businesses in which we work, if we have the courage to stand in our own truth.
In order to drive change, we must be the change. Each of us, in our own way, can influence our corner of the universe to enlighten, enrich and empower one another. Together, we really are better.
Ask, Decide, Be, Plan then Do.
Your friend and partner in positive progress,
Copyright© Laura Cardone 2008. All Rights Reserved. This is a Daily Discovery Series edition. http://www.profitswithpurpose.com is for business owners and professionals who are passionate about creating a successful business, AND a fulfilling and balanced life.
