Sitting in corporate meetings sometimes drives me friggin nuts
(did you happen to discern that almost unnoticeable change to first
person?) People spend a staggering amount of time processing
information and playing the politically correct game trying to save
someone's feelings. Those actions drive an INTJ insane.
When an idea is presented in a corporate meeting, I usually know
what I like and dislike about it immediately; that is, if I am
educated on the subject at hand. If not, I shut up until I can
provide input. Furthermore, I have no trouble whatsoever conveying
my opinion on matters. Most personality types need to sit around
and "mull-over" an idea before reaching a conclusion. Most will
arrive at somewhat the same position as I ... however, they just
take longer processing the full spectrum of information. What works
best for me is if I sit back and let people talk about the merits
and weaknesses of ideas until enough time has elapsed for others to
digest and begin reaching conclusions. Admittedly, I have yet to
master the art of knowing when that time has arrived before opening
my trap.
Most personality types also find the need to make sure that
someone's idea is handled in a 'politically-correct' method. This
also drives me friggin nuts and I have some very strong feelings
about the subject. Because managers wanted to 'save-feelings', I've
been a witness to bad ideas being implemented and subsequently
costing others their jobs because of the negative impact the
decision made on the business over time ... all because some
feel-good manager felt the need to save the feelings of one person
with an idea that wasn't properly vetted.
Over the years, I have attempted to create environments where people
are comfortable with dissent. Sometimes I like to throw out a
completely stupid idea in hopes that someone will pounce on it and
call it such ... to which I'll subsequently happily agree in hopes
of setting a tone for the rest of the meeting that it is ok to
disagree with ideas and positions. Sometimes it works. Sometimes
not.
Now, don't get me wrong. When one is handling a meeting with the
entire staff, yes, one does want to handle things with kid-gloves.
But, those are not the kind of meetings I'm talking about. The
meetings I'm speaking of are management meetings where decisions
need to be made regarding issues that may determine the future
direction of the company.
In my opinion, if one can't hold their own and support their idea
... and, the person is going to take things personally, then they
have no business being in management. If one is going to open their
trap, then they had better be able to vigorously support the idea
with reason and logic. As well, if one lets bad ideas pass without
voicing dissent because of worry about someone's feelings, then
someone needs to be an Indian and not a chief.
I find most good ideas lead to a thriving business and bad ideas
sometimes cost people their jobs ... it's that simple. I dunno ... I
guess I am just bewildered by people who want to be in management
but then walk away from a management meeting with their feelings
hurt. In those cases, I tend to feel sorry for that particular
manager's staff for having a pansy-ass for a manager.
For God's sakes, it's a business ... were not playing with tinker
toys!
I've been involved with several different types of organizations.
For example, I've been in management within an organization that had
a very strong management staff. When we met behind closed doors,
people threw out ideas and everyone ruthlessly attacked it ... the
merits ... the weaknesses ... everything was open game, except for
the individual. Individuals were never attacked ... but, ideas were
open game. The meetings were remarkable. Ideas were conveyed,
digested, analyzed, dissected and decisions were made within a few
minutes. What's more, everyone around the table was *expected* to
voice their opinion ... and damn-it, it had better be a
well-thought-out, strong opinion on the matter, or you were not
invited back to the next meeting. We always advanced the business
during those meetings and everyone left the meetings invigorated
from the experience but also feeling brain dead from the need to
think on their feet at a moments notice. Ah, yes! The business
thrived, and it was one of the most satisfying experiences of my
life.
I've also been in management in organizations with weak management
staffs. Within these organizations, I wouldn't exactly say that the
management staff had the ability to strongly voice opinions without
somebody feeling like they have been <insert diminishing feeling of
choice here>.
That all being said, within all organizations, there are always
people who can hold their own and have the ability to voice opinions
and support the same. I worked with one person that was particularly
invigorating to talk to. We chatted about a variety of subjects
every so often. I could present an idea to the person can she had no
hesitation in looking me square in the eye and say "I don't like
it"! <chuckle> Then, the person proceeded to logically tell me the
merits and faults of my position on the given matter. Although I
sometimes did not agree with her, the person's arguments always had
a logical application of value. We could banter back and forth and
the person held their own. Sometimes we agreed, sometimes not. But,
the person was confident of their position and ideas. I usually left
this person's office feeling that I had more information to digest.
I felt challenged and I loved it.
By now, perhaps readers of this article (that are not INTJ's) are
thinking that I am the most arrogant son-of-a-bitch on the planet.
By way of their own personality types, I can truly see how they
could reach that conclusion. Many will probably interpret these
writings to say that I think my particular ideas are God's gift to
the world.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I simply wish that most others were able to support their ideas
with the same tenacity. I believe that my ideas certainly have
value, but they may not be the answer to the issue at hand. I will
stand up and support my ideas with sounds reasoning and logic. Some
others do not ... they just let them slide. What concerns me most is
when ideas are not fully vetted because people are worried about
hurting someone else's feelings. In my opinion, a business just does
not have time for that. Furthermore, I believe management owes it to
the staff to make sure that ideas are properly vetted before being
put into action. Hell, people's livelihoods are sometimes in the
balance.
