I have always been one to question how things are being done - much to the chagrin of companies and organizations I have worked with over the years and the people involved. Early on in my career, my repeated attempts to question the “norm” didn't do much to bring about change, as people just kept shaking their heads as if to say, “Alas, she’s so green . . . someday she’ll understand that isn’t how things work in the corporate world."
As time went on, I continued to be met with reactions such as "she just doesn't get it" or "she's not very smart, is she?" LOL. Whether I was questioning one size fits all dog training methods in a rescue group or asking questions about processes used in an animal shelter that didn't seem to support the animals in their care or me asking questions about how we could improve on issues in the community I live in. (My favorite response is: "She must not be from around here." - LOL)
It has never stopped me from asking the questions, because I think that is just part of who I am. The reason I felt inspired to write this is because I can't ignore this growing sense that the time is NOW for us all to ask those questions . . . to point out when things don't make sense and to speak up when we see things that we know in our hearts could be done better. I believe the time is NOW to come forward with even more passion and more conviction . . . to call out the things that aren’t effective and begin working with others to create brand new ways to get things done. Not to tweak existing ways but to come up with entirely new ways of working.
From what I have been observing, clearly there are others sensing this need for change. Recent conversations I have had are indicating that many people are already attempting to implement new ways of working in their current positions and they are finding great success with these new approaches.
My hope is that by shining the spotlight on this, even more people will step forward and begin questioning if there are better ways to do just about everything . . . not with more rules and more structure . . . with more logic, more critical thinking skills and more heart.
Can we quiet the voices that say, “This is how we’ve always done it” – and instead could we think more broadly and more deeply about how we’d like to work?
Could we reimagine how we partner with our co-workers? Our customers? Our suppliers? Could we find new ways to work where everyone feels valued and appreciated? Where everyone enjoys what they are doing so much that it no longer feels like "work?"
Can we re-imagine how the world of animal rescue works? Can we design new ways to approach basic elements such as: saving, protecting, supporting and re-homing animals?
Can we stay open to the possibility that there may not be just ONE way to do any of these things??
Imagine starting from scratch! If there were no limits at all, what could you create? What is the outcome you desire? Could you start with the outcome you want and work backwards from there? What steps are essential to reach an outcome? Can we eliminate the steps that are there "because we've always done it that way"? and find new and improved ways to get from one point to the next?
What if there is no "right way" to do any of this? What if we gave ourselves permission to look at things with both humanity and effectiveness in mind (in the absence of all limits) - could we then tap into brand new ideas that could completely reshape the way we do business? And reshape the way organizations function? Or how a community works together? Or transform our relationships?
My belief is that we absolutely can—the question really comes down to “Will we?”
ps: I added this meme because it makes me laugh so hard every time I see it and because I've heard that people are more likely to read a post that has a picture included - LOL. No offense intended for people who don't like squirrels getting into their bird feeders.
