Thinking: It’s One of the Most Difficult Tasks We Do
Archives: Daily Issues | Self Improvement
Henry Ford once hired an efficiency expert to go through his plant. Ford directed him to find the nonproductive employees and, he said, “I will fire them!”
When the expert finished his evaluation, he reported to Ford that he was particularly concerned with one of his administrators. “Every time I walked by, he was sitting with his feet propped up on the desk. The man never does a thing. I definitely think you should consider getting rid of him!”
Ford was curious to know who was using company time that way. Then the expert identified him, and Ford shook his head. “I can’t fire him. I pay that man to do nothing but think, and that’s what he’s doing.”
Even in this culture of downsizing, right-sizing, and just plain streamlining operations, no company can afford to lose its thinkers.
Most small to mid-sized companies probably can’t afford to hire a “staff thinker,” but among the larger, and likely the most successful companies, I’ll bet you’ll find someone with a title like strategic planner, researcher, creative engineer, visioner, or some similar version. At Disney, they’re called “imagineers.” (At Microsoft, they’re called “millionaires.”)
“What a job!” you’re thinking right about now. No measurable goals, no restrictive job descriptions, no pressure, because nobody can tell if you’re doing your job. But you must prove yourself over time.
Guess again. Some people get lost in thought because it’s such unfamiliar territory. And then look around your office and see if you can identify the person you’d go to first if you needed a great new plan or idea. There’s the thinker. The job title may not be a tip-off.
Years ago, at the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego, management decided that one elevator wasn’t adequate to serve their guests. They hired engineers and architects to add a second lift.
The professionals discussed several options, and eventually settled on a plan to cut a hole in each floor to accommodate the new elevator.
A janitor overheard the discussion, and inquired about their intentions. The engineers patiently explained their plans to him. The janitor was concerned and told them so: “That’s going to make quite a mess — plaster, dust, and debris everywhere.” No problem, he was told, because the hotel would be closed during the construction.
“But that will cost the hotel a lot of money, and a lot of people will be out of jobs while the hotel is closed,” the janitor replied.
“Do you have a better idea?” one of the architects asked.
The janitor surprised them all with his answer: “You could build the elevator on the outside of the hotel.”
It had never been done before, but it was an intriguing concept. The engineers and architects, hired for their creative thinking, decided it was an idea worth developing. An architectural feature we now see every day was the brainchild of a hotel janitor. Not a “staff thinker.” But a thinker on the staff.
Chances are you have several folks like that in your employ. They are worth their weight, and yours, in gold. Consultants may come and go, but those employees who can think are your best source of great ideas and inspiration for the rest of your organization.
Let me lay down a few ground rules for encouraging great thinking:
-
Respond with enthusiasm. When someone has a great thought, be enthusiastic rather than demanding details on implementation. This person has ideas. Somebody else can develop them. You’ve seen that happen a million times.
-
Make your workplace conducive to thinking. Windows are inspirational. Cheerful colors stimulate creativity. My office is full of photos and souvenirs and some of my favorite things. Sterile surroundings are for brain surgery. We’re looking for brain candy.
-
Celebrate occasionally. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is still true. Let your staff know they can have fun and be productive at the same time.
-
Give credit where credit is due. I surely hope that janitor at the El Cortez got the recognition he deserved and a big bonus. Reward great thinking. You’ll be surprised how creative every member of your staff can be.
Mackay’s Moral: Minds are like parachutes — not much good unless they are open.
[Ed. Note: Harvey Mackay has written five New York Times bestselling books, two of them named among the top 15 inspirational business books of all time -- Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt. His latest book, Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You, was released Feb. 18. Harvey is a nationally syndicated columnist and has been named one of the top five speakers in the world by Toastmasters International. He is also chairman of the $100 million MackayMitchell Envelope Company, a firm he started in 1960.
For two free bonus reports featuring Harvey’s most powerful essays on leadership, goal achieving, business success, and much more, go here.]
————————————————Highly Recommended ——————————————
The Relaxation Technique That Eases Stress in Seconds
You’re stuck in a boring meeting… a long line at the bank… or bumper-to-bumper traffic… Your blood pressure is rising. Your stress is through the roof…
But with one unconventional (and often misunderstood) technique, your frustration and anxiety stress simply slip away. You feel peaceful, in control, and happy within seconds. Anytime. Anywhere. Find out more here …
“Hi Michael,
“It was a pleasure meeting you at the ETR Bootcamp back in November. And your essay on giving thanks hit a chord with me. My wife of 54 years died a year and a half ago. In the past month, the spouses of three of my friends died. Since I live in an adult community, death is no stranger here.
“After the death of my wife, I did a lot of introspection. I am thankful for the 54 years I had with her. I am thankful for all the friends I have who gave me support after my loss. I am thankful for my two wonderful children who continually support me. Prior to my wife’s death, I didn’t think much of what to be thankful for.
“As for the denial of death, one cannot deny that it will eventually come. Until it does, we should make the best of the years we have left. I’m 77 now, and I am looking to living to 120. One of the reasons I went to Bootcamp was to be able to afford to live that long.
“Thank you for giving me something else to think about.”
H.M.
———————————————–Highly Recommended——————————————
$2.3 Trillion Floats by You Every Year…
Billions of dollars every month… millions every week… go right by you through your phone, TV, computer, and mailbox… The problem is, those dollars are invisible. There is a $2.3 trillion industry all around us. You’ve seen its products and ads, but you probably couldn’t put a name to it. The profit opportunities for people just like you are enormous and easy to tap into… if you know how to get your “foot in the door.”
Comments