Friday, May 1, 2009

Angry Young Man

Consider these two scenarios:

1 – One 15 year old has ok grades without trying, plays sports, but without passion, and listens to Alice Cooper’s “Eighteen” about 50 times a day. He was generally an easy going person but not going anywhere. (View a 1970’s version of the music video and lyrics.)



2 – The other was 17 years old, has really good grades without trying, is the captain of the basketball and baseball teams, president of the National Honor Society, and listens to Styx’s “Angry Young Man” about 50 times a day. (View a 1970’s version of the music video and lyrics.)



What if the two were the same person just older? Is there a slight chance that this whole idea of self-affirmation really has an impact? I personally vote “yes.”

While a lot of things changed during this two-year period of my life, listening to a lot of music did not. The message in these songs vary greatly. One song is about going nowhere and the other about future achievements.

As leaders we should understand these explicit and implicit messages and ensure we are sending the ones we intend. Are we saying one thing and doing another? Are we surrounding ourselves with people who support our aspirations? Do we support theirs?

Have you seen consistent positive communication improve the workplace?

1 comment:

Amer Raja said...

Honest positive communication backed by necessary action definitely improves the work place environment. This is the main diffefrence between developed and underdeveloped societies. Coercion and force (non physical), in general, isthe modus operandi of top management. In the long run this approach leads to inefficiency, moral degradation etc,

Add to Technorati Favorites