So many outcomes in life depend on the way we address the world, the unconscious rules by which we play. The rules may not be immediately obvious to others, but sooner or later our external actions and attitudes betray the unspoken.
Online friend Dan Oestreich http://www.unfoldingleadership.com/blog/ offers this description of two radically different worlds: the world of the strong and the weak and the world of transcendent values.
Dan writes that most organizations have elements of both worlds.
“In most organizations I’ve known, leaders endeavor to speak from the world of transcendent values. And they believe in them. But they often also find that at some level they must deal with the other world, focused as it is on strength and weakness, on power without any particular moral code. “
This comment seems to me to be right in line with our thread on collaboration and client service. Each world’s values struggle for dominance in the workplace, in our working relationships with colleagues, and in our client relationships. I believe that when we operate from a firm stance in the world of transcendent values, we do the best for ourselves and for others. When we tolerate the opposing values of the world of the strong and the weak, we are all diminished.
Dan illustrates the difference with this legend. A Cherokee elder was teaching his children about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to them.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandchildren thought about it and after a minute one of them asked, “Which wolf will win?”
The elder simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Karen Lynch
Filed under: Ethics, collaboration
