The Six Words I Hate The Most

It starts with a simple question, and then I invariably run into that six word phrase I so loathe.

As a former executive director, I know that part of my mandate is to problem solve administrative and personnel issues; I am expected to have the organization running smoothly. Now, whether it’s when I come new onto the scene, or when I actively try to identify the current assumptions being made (unconsciously) by everyone else, that phrase crops up.

I like to ask: “Why do we do it this way? What are we trying to achieve? What information is required to complete this task? What would happen if we did it another way?” It’s these kinds of probing questions that usually elicit the 6 words I hate the most: “That’s How We’ve Always Done It.”

More than anything, I think I dislike this deadly phrase as much as I do because it signals that the other party has stopped thinking and is not interested in pursuing the possibility of bettering the situation.

One of the most valuable tools in your kit is your ability to think creatively and differently. Being able to see the road blocks means being able to identify preconceived notions which may be impeding growth and development (of a person, a process or an organization).

Some argue that if something is ‘tried and true,’ then why bother playing with it. After all, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it!”

The problem is, that when we become mired in our way of thinking, “Mental Set” as it is referred to in the cognitive psychology world, not only can we not see beyond our self-imposed limitations, we are not even aware of them. I have personally seen this result in the stasis and stagnation of entire organizations and communities. Staff who fall victim to Mental Set tend to blame ineffectiveness and failings on the members and volunteers of the organization who “clearly don’t understand and respect processes which have been put into place.” While sometimes true, it is just as often the case that the staff are simply not seeing the real issue: the fact that there is likely a fault in the process, and that they themselves have not “kept up with the times” and evolved what they do and how they do it, as everyone else has.

So how does one battle Mental Set? How do you win the fight against City Hall? The real answer lies in creating a new work culture. A culture and attitude which recognizes that “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.” Just as times changes, just as people change, so too must our work processes change. We must constantly reinvent ourselves, and what we do, to meet the ever evolving requirements of our communities. The “It ain’t broken…” attitude no longer works in our fluid workplace. Those who insist in not changing the rules very quickly find themselves out of the game.

Let's Talk,

Mordechai