A neighbor
has a standard poodle who is permitted to bound anywhere on their property, but
must remain inside the borders of an invisible electric fence. Given that the
frisky fellow will get a shocking lesson should he overstep his boundaries, he has
been conditioned to hold back.
Each time this
dog slams on his brakes at the property line I wonder whether my neighbor has
the electric fence set in the “off” position, or if it is powered up to shock.
Where Are Your Invisible Fences?
It is useful
to speculate about the power of our own instincts and self-imposed limits. For
instance, as we chart our career paths, how often do we hold back as though
there is an invisible line that we dare not cross? Or, when conducting job
interviews, do long-expired rules and out-of-date experiences prevent us from
considering qualified candidates who may test our boundaries?
The hard
part about managing instincts is figuring out the difference between prudent
guiding principles and habits of thinking that hold us back. Advice from
colleagues may be well-intended, historical perspectives are meant to protect
us and familiar group-think feels comfortable. Each of these are designed to
stop us at the line of pre-defined limits. Perhaps we will avoid a shock, but these
forms of self-imposed limits can easily short-circuit opportunities for
inspired, innovative thinking.
Traveling New Terrain
While
inactive minds halt at the limits of the unknown, active minds explore
unfamiliar territory in search of alternative views, speculations and research.
Seekers are willing to actively test their assumptions; and contrarian thinkers
challenge us to stimulate our curiosity about what might be dated information
within our mindsets.
Think about
those individuals you consider to be savvy executives. They are often just returning from giving a
speech, writing a provocative article, attending a class, traveling beyond
their assigned territories. They are never “too busy” for exposure to original
experiences and information. They are disciplined in actively mining insights
about their futures.
Searching for the Right Job Candidate
When hiring
new talent, pay close attention to the habits candidates follow to remain
current in their professions, technologies, markets and global influences. Do
they do just enough to get by, or are they explorers? Do their answers sound
familiar and trite, or are they fresh and contemplative? Are their rationales
conventional and safe, or do they set you back just a bit? Do they surprise you
with their observations about your organization’s current circumstances and
potential prospects? Do they stop at the curb, or are they enthusiastic about
leaping beyond?
Taking Risks
The only
punishment that comes to the person who actively attends to new thinking is
wielded by the chorus of conventional thinkers who sound warnings about the
need to stick within familiar boundaries. Ironically, the switch for their
power to punish is always in the “off” position!
