Growth Without Limits
Chedva Haber
Process & Project Professional | Setting up Smooth Systems | Ideal Infrastructure
What are your Thoughts?
I was part of a small meeting where I was asked for my feedback on a new tagline. The tagline was "Growth Without Limits". It was referring to career development from a company and something about it didn't feel right.
Growth is for sure a good thing when referring to personal development. However, there are so many negative associations with growth, an extreme example is a cancerous growth. So what can determine if growth is positive?
I suggested adding the word "Guided". Guided growth sounds more secure and less likely to end up as something messy or possibly dangerous. The facilitator of the meeting heard me and agreed that growth via a mentor or with direction is more constructive than free growth.
Do Guidelines Cause Limits?
My co-worker, who was in the meeting with me, picked on the "limits". He wondered if that meant that the company supports someone who wants to develop into a professional whose work won't be related to the company. Will each and every person be entitled to this? What if it means that they won't be doing their job while they are "growing"? Will the company pay for the time and the growth?
The facilitator agreed that if something is stated to be limitless, it is actually opening up a lot of questions. Some of those questions may be very hard to answer without setting a limit. So where does that take us? Are limits good?
Hard Situations can help Good Flourish
After this 30 minute conversation, I realized that many good things in life actually do need boundaries in order to be successful. When referring to plant growth, for example, you keep the seedling contained in order to help it take root. Another example is having guardrails on the road, not that all cars need them, but I sure do feel more comfortable when they are there.
Is it just me?
Do you ever feel like a process is stifling you or is it freeing?
Do you value systems or do you find them limiting?
Does guidance sound comforting or does it sound controlling?
Do limits give you the structure to build or do they cap your success?