Sorry for the cheap rhyme in the title but it is getting late for me.
Today was a fantastic day learning about tons of things – everything from government online auctions in the exhibit hall to new developments in Viriginia but by far the start of the day with Robert Fulghum was the best start to a day! Thanks to the Host Committee for bringing him to Richmond!!!!!!
It is amazing what one can learn (and pull out of our internal databases located between our ears) by watching experiences especially those with children, makes me glad to have two at home, which I miss dearly at this point in the conference. Mr Fulghum reminded of how great we as managers can be making things happen with shrinking resources by taking us back to that ever exciting game of Muscial Chairs and changing the rules – instead of one person losing each time a chair is removed he challenged us to think about the game with all the players staying in and the challenging being getting everyone a seat as each chair is removed. In this case the chairs are the resources while the people continually adapt and make due as the resources are removed and in fact when all the chairs are gone there still is a way to succeed!
He also raised a very simple question to all of us managers: What on earth have you done?
When was the last time you heard that question and was it in a stressed or maddening tone? I would bet so. Mr. Fulghum noted that usually this is said by a parent when their child has done something unbeliveable, which as a parent I would have to agree. But he challenged us to think about in a different way – to think about in in terms us actually asking yourself “What on Earth have you done?”
Is it meaningful? Is it ethical? Is it memorable in a positive way? Is this what you wanted? Seems to me like a simple question with a great chance of holding major impact on the way we live our lives and complete our work! A SIMPLY CHALLENGING question!
So . . . WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU DONE?
