Ignored, Denied, Or Pushed Aside
Fresh from Margaret Wheatley‘s “So Far from Home: Lost and Found in Our Brave New World“, I present you with these four vexing questions:
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and your expectations were met, then you’re incredibly lucky because:
They’re based on an assumption of rational human behavior— that leaders are interested in what works— and that has not proven true. Time and again, innovators and their highly successful projects are ignored, denied or pushed aside, even in the best of times. In this dark era, this is even more true. – Margaret Wheatley
Not that I’m an innovator, but these questions hit me hard because it took decades of disappointment and bewilderment for me to realize that Ms. Wheatley is right. But you know what? Once I became truly aware that “it is the way it is“, I felt liberated. Now I do the work for the work itself. An intimate, joyful communication between the creator and the created.
Leave a Reply
Why am I here?
WTF?
Meh!
D'oh!
My BTC Address
Bulldozer00's Blog 
Ha brilliant. Hugely coincidently I tried to say same in post about 7 hours ago and only gut as far as a glib cartoon and some throwaway words. Should have waited til I read this one.
More coincidently, what you say about “it is the way it is” is EXACTLY how I managed to come to terms with reality. A combibation of an APPALING new boss at work and starting to learn about Taoism, both led me to realise that if there’s bad weather, don’t bother shouting at the sky. Waste of time and will only exasperate you further. Put on a coat, or don’t go out instead. Either way, like all weather it will change soon enough.
Wow, from a quick glance at Amazon that’s an interesting Meg Wheatly book too. I’d heard of her, seen quotes around and probably used some myself, but that book looks the bees knees.
Again, good post, “congruent” as I’ve seen others reply to things like this.
I recently discovered and latched on to Meg Wheatley after seeing her mentioned in a Fast Company article. I read “Leadership And The New Science” first (which spawned yesterday’s post), and now I’m deep into “So Far From Home”.
I’m sorry to hear about your appalling new boss.
Appalling new boss went, a while ago, thankfully.
Now the building holds only thoroughly decent people again. Like with the weather, drizzle comes and goes. I have to say though, a fair few posts were inspired during that exciting and interesting time, I learnt absolutely loads from looking into the gaping maw of C&C management up close. I wouldn’t have changed it for anything as I’d be a simpler soul if everything went my way.
Just downloaded that book, only the second ever book I’ve done that with. Couldn’t wait for a physical version. The first one coincidently was the Weinberg on writing that I also found in your blog, the bits about “fieldstones” was similar to what I was accidentky doing already. Again, a brilliant book.
Any more recommendations woukd be gratefully devoured.
Terrific! I’m glad to have helped you out in some small way TP.
late to the party here, but once again resonating on many octaves. I’ve reached the point of inwardly, secretly gloating when my innovation process proves successful on a project, to the disdain of others who were working on parallel concepts that were not selected.
I’ve tried sharing my ‘secret recipe’ in many forums and with several internal groups, but have found that the reception is less than glowing. Maybe people can’t make the intuitive leap, or their pride tends to blind them. Entrenched processes and closed thinking are the biggest barriers, and like you, I’ve found my own ‘joy’ in my process has become a means in itself.