Rodent Regatta

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome when trying to help organizations improve is the notion – often from top to bottom – that answers are easy, quick-to-implement and instantly discovered. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some things take time!

I’ll repeat that. Some things take time! We live in an era of short attention spans, abrupt demeanors and distracted thinking. Most people are so busy saying what they want to say, they seldom hear or give any deliberation to what you’ve just told them. That’s assuming they let you finish what you’re telling them before cutting you off with, ”We’ve already tried that.”

In most cases they are certain they know what you are going to say before you say it. Interrupting one another has become the ”accepted” method of making your point. Say it fast. Say it loud. Don’t listen to the one you’re trying to communicate with.

This absence of considered and considerate dialog may be the largest single cause of failed communication in America today. Know-it-alls who prefer sound bites to thoughtful discourse do enormous harm. Those who would rather eat from a dumpster than say they took your advice on a matter are commonplace.

Through this fog of noise people want answers. Yet, they are too busy offering their opinions to hear anything of value. Confrontation is preferred over comaraderie. A feeling of superiority is more important to these people than a sense of collaboration.

What is one to do? Stay the course. Don’t give in. The oldest wisdom we have is far better than the sound-bite thinking of today’s MTV generation. The ability to think and think critically is a lost art. The ability to organize thoughts in a meaningful way is nearly lost. Articulating well-reasoned thoughts is also almost lost.

Keep trying. These things are valuable. They will return to favor. They’ve never lost favor with those who matter. Like ”pearls before swine” these skills are mocked by those who want the ”instant pudding” of quick solutions. As Deming said, ”there is no instant pudding.” Answers aren’t always quick and easy.