Have a Go !

I am proud of the confidence that I see growing in the commerce students who I teach at the Eastern Institute of Technology. Only a matter of a few weeks ago you could have heard the proverbial pin drop after I asked for students to contribute their thoughts/ opinions in relation to the scheduled topic of interest that I was addressing at the time. Just over a month on from this “quiet as a mouse” initial era most students are delighting in coming forth with their thoughts – many are expressing their views with real conviction in their voices.

The “motto” that we remind ourselves of during classes when student input simmers somewhat is “Have a go !” I remind students of the ethos that underpins all classroom interaction – that being that all opinions offered will be gratefully received and respected, and that everyone has a valid view.

I’d love to see more of the “Have a go !” message launching forth from the lips of leaders – encouraging the people who they are providing leadership to to step forward and express their honest views/ opinions. By having a go (or to use the old Kiwi expression…”give it a crack”) we move our minds from “thought mode” to “action mode”. 

There are so many minds out there that – for whatever reason – are making the choice to “do nothing”; often after spending much time and energy going around in circles in thought. Common reasons for this tendency are:

a) The situation has simply been over-thought…unnecessarily.

b) The thought-filled person fears making the “wrong” choice of action (e.g. saying the wrong thing/ giving incorrect guidance/ advice to another person, etc).

c) The thought-filled person is risk adverse, and can’t face making a decision/ taking action that may (in their mind) result in a mistake being made. The fear of making mistakes holds many organisations back – their comfort in maintaining the status quo year after year often becomes the cause of their undoing. 

As a leader, if you set the stage for free-flowing conversation/ discussion by reminding everyone in attendance that all ideas offered will not be judged as being either “good” versus “bad” or “valid” versus “invalid”, and support (and praise) – or constructively challenge – the ideas that start flowing, you’ll be pleasantly surprised as to who joins-in and the quality of ideas that continue to flow. Keep encouraging other people around you to “Have a Go !“