Flat Earth At Work
J. Kelly Hoey
Design your future around the relationships you're building today // Author + Coach + Speaker + Strategy ???????? focused on high-achieving networks along with the networking strategies women need for success
Yes, Virginia there is a Flat Earth Society.
Started in 1956, the Society holds onto the notion that the earth is “a flat disk centered at the North Pole and bounded along its southern edge by a wall of ice, with the sun, moon, planets and stars only a few hundred miles above the surface of the earth.”
Really…..really?!!??
If you’re like me, you’re scratching your head right now and asking yourself “what about all those photos of earth taken from space, the grace of the sun rolling over the horizon at sunset, and the South Pole!” No, the South Pole is not mentioned by the Flat Earth Society, but please, don’t tell the penguins!
Let’s get back to earth. What does the Flat Earth Society have to do with networking and diversity of ideas in the workplace?
The workplace is full of “flat earth societies” – you’ve likely encountered them. They’re the groups of people clinging to some crazy (outdated) notions of how things work, how departments function and how they got to where they are on the corporate ladder. Rather than opening their eyes (and minds), they continue to recruit and surround themselves with a tight-knit circle of people who look like and think like, them. The “this is how things are done” “this is what successful looks like” viewpoint shuts-out the new, different and opposing. It can’t value or support diverse communities of people and/or ideas. It stifles innovation and improvement. It reinforces “this is how things are done here.”
Imagine a corporate culture which is filled with hundreds of tiny “flat earth societies”. Insidious, right? The company and the individuals within it can’t begin to innovate, solve corporate problems creatively or reach a greater potential, when the foundation is “flat earth”. The “flat earth” mentality resurrects barriers at every turn.
Now, think about your own workplace and more importantly, your interactions within it. Who are your co-workers? What about your most recent hire or promotion? What about the colleagues across departments/functions/geographic regions, who you interact with on some regular basis or need to enlist for support? Do you seek out diverse, varied viewpoints or are the “go to” people in your workplace network, people “like” you?
Have you unconsciously created your own “flat earth society” at work?
You meet these people all the time. Yet change is the constant. The workplace and the economy have never stayed the same. We're so much better off because of it.
Animal Conflict Resolution Expert | Attorney/Mediator | Best-Selling Author | Helping Pet Owners, Breeders, & Animal Service Professionals Navigate Pet Related Conflicts
10 年Great post Kelly Hoey I work with many Flat Earth thinkers. People in conflict over animals have never considered mediation as a useful tool in addressing the conflicts. I'm rounding out the way they process solutions and loving every minute.
Communications Strategist. Hustler. Influence through Engagement. Connecting the dots between sustainability, ESG, business and all else.
10 年Ughh. Well said.