Whether it is an organization or at home, \u2018thinking\u2019 is assumed to be the responsibility of the seniors or head of family. Encouraging thinking at all levels and ages will enable faster development & better engagement besides better decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not about gender equality or anything in that realm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a simple question, but the answer determines whether your workplace offers \u2018Thinking Equality\u2019 or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was to be the executive coach of a Sales Director in a large organization. When I was collecting feedback on him, one of his direct reports told me the following story which set me thinking on this topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were meeting to discuss the \u2018Sales Plan for 2020\u2019. Our Sales Director had already thought through the entire plan and in the meeting, he rattled it off in detail and then at the end as he was collecting his papers to leave, he solicited our opinion by asking \u2018What do you think?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All he wanted to hear from us were affirmative comments like \u2018Great thinking boss\u2019 or \u2018Seems good to go\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He did not really want the answer to \u2018What did we think?\u2019 He did not want the 12 brains in the room to think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over a period of time, we stopped thinking, just did what he told us to do. We had no ownership of the \u2018plans\u2019 nor did we feel positive or negative about their success or failures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the HR head gave feedback to the Sales Director about his style of \u2018telling\u2019 what to do, he replied point blank, \u2018As a director it is my responsibility to think, come up with solutions and get them executed through the team! My team can\u2019t think very well, they never come up with any of their perspectives and thinking! They wait for me to think and find the solutions.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In another famous example, had Lt Gen Nathu Singh Rathore not expressed what every Indian soldier was thinking, Prime Minister Nehruji would have appointed a Britisher as the Chief of Army in accordance to his unilateral thinking. Because of Lt Gen Rathore\u2019s thinking and courage, the country was fortunate to appoint Field Marshal K M Cariappa as the first Indian Chief of Army in 1949.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the Myths in the corporate world, is that, with seniority one becomes a better thinker and it is his or her sole responsibility to think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Impact of this myth is that the leaders do not harness the immense brain power which exists across the organization, and further stymie the development of mid and junior level employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World economic forum puts \u2018analytical and critical thinking skills\u2019 among the top three important skills required for future jobs. Hence, every organization should start with the question \u2018What are we doing to utilize and harness the existing thinking capabilities and how do we enhance them?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of us have seen several managers who create an opinion, think up a solution and present it to the team. Just before announcing the decision, customarily asking the team about their views without giving much importance or credence to their viewpoints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018So, What do you think?\u2019 is more of a statement, without any intent to actually hear them out.The expected answer from the team is generally \u2018Yes , I think it is fine\u2019, \u2018You are correct\u2019. Often, they are not even willing to listen to the critical appreciation of their own solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is NOT Thinking Equality .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When every person irrespective of the level; the job function; gender is considered capable of thinking on issues at hand in a systematic way and contributing to evolve solutions. It is about giving every team member, time and opportunity to think and express. It is about understanding & accepting that different employees will have different perspectives owing to their experience and background. It is about acknowledging the variety and richness of thoughts and perspectives which come up for consideration before taking a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The process of getting everyone to \u2018think\u2019 and express may be time consuming, but the advantages enumerated below, will far outweigh the extra time taken:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once it becomes clear that everyone\u2019s thinking is required to be on board, it is heard and valued, executives will feel responsible to think intently and express freely. Thinking is not the realm of only the senior leaders but even the junior-most has to think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The organization will become a Thinking organization where the power of every brain is harnessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is when an organization achieves\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u2018Thinking Equality\u2019<\/p>\n** Inspired by Time to Think by Nancy Kline<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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