Ten Things I Believe

It is the season when many of us stop to reflect about what happened in the past year and start looking ahead to the next -- and hope that we've learned something to help us and those we care about live happier lives.  In that spirit, I offer my "top 10" list.

Let me tell you about why I started the list.  I have been teaching courses on introduction to organizational behavior for about 25 years now.  I've learned that after several months of teaching and talking with young people about what it takes to build effective and humane organizations (and to survive organization's that aren't), it helps us get a bit of closure if I step back and talk about some things that I believe most vehemently and people and workplaces.  Many of these ideas are evidence-based, and if you read this blog, many will be familiar themes to you.  But some are also simply beliefs that I try to follow (and have found that when I fail to do so, I am worse for it, as are the people around me).  I offer them without explanation, although I have discussed some in detail here already and will talk about others in the future. I would be curious to see reactions, additions, and subtractions -- and if you have have your own list, please add a comment or a link.

Ten Things I Believe

Bob Sutton

1.    Sometimes the best management is no management at all -- first do no harm!

2.   Indifference is as important as passion.

3.    In organizational life, you can have influence over others or you can have freedom from others, but you can't have both at the same time.

4.    Learning how to say smart things and give smart answers is important. Learning to listen to     others and to ask smart questions is more important.

5.    You get what you expect from people. This is especially true when it comes to selfish behavior;   self-interest is a learned social norm, not an inherent feature of human behavior.

6.    Getting a little power can turn you into an insensitive self-centered jerk.

7.    Avoid pompous jerks whenever possible. They not only can make you feel bad about yourself, chances are that you will eventually start acting like them.

8.    The best test of a person's character is how he or she treats those with less power.

9.    Err on the side of optimism and positive energy in all things.

10. Work is an over-rated activity.

Comments

[Jason Shick]

I agree with everything on your list except of the 2nd part of #5... " self-interest is a learned social norm, not an inherent feature of human behavior." My observations lead me to believe that perhaps selfishness is a part of the human make-up from the beginning. I have 4 children and I must say, as soon as they were old enough to understand that when another child is playing with a toy, they can't - they began to utter that all too common word... "mine".

[Sharon McGann]

Great way to reflect on the year.
Yes to all except 2. For me Passion is more important than indifference.
I'll have to have a think about other things I believe.

[Maureen Rogers]

Bob - Great list. I would make a slight change to #10: Working for money is an over-rated activity. Working (i.e., spending purposeful, concentrated time doing something that you care deeply about) is an essential ingredient for happiness in life.

And you've inspired me to come up with my own 10, as well: http://www.pinkslipblog.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year!

[Bob Sutton]

Valeria,

Thanks so much, I would love to learn more about Companies that Care.. For some reason, the link isn't working. Please send again.

Thanks,

Bob

[Valeria Maltoni]

Hello Bob:
I spoke about you and your blog to a Board Member of an organization called Companies that Care.

I like the fact that to be a company that cares, one has to have 10 characteristics [http://www.companies-that-care.org/l3_how_1.php] *and* step up to the plate in increments over time -- it's not a 'given'. I think their mission might appeal to you.

If you do not hear from anyone there, and would like to, I'll be happy to chase this one down for you and make formal introductions.

[Robert Hruzek]

How about #11: There is really no such thing as "being your own boss".

[James Drogan]

Some similarities, some differences.

Drogan's Laws

1. Know what you know, know what you don't know, and know who knows what you don't know.

2. When things are going really well you've probably missed something.

3. Never put things in an e-mail you would not like to hear read in court.

4. The spoken word can never be taken back.

5. If you continue to think what you have always thought you will get less and less of what you always got.

6. Authority is no substitute for the patient attendance to the facts and systematic reasoning about them.

7. The future needs to be reachable in a reasonable way.

8. Old dogs that don't learn new tricks end up dead dogs.

[Frank Schophuizen]

Rex,
I propose to making your item 6 more general.

6. Shared knowledge multiplies. Not only it multiplies knowledge itself, it also multiplies interaction between people.

Frank.

[Lilly Evans]

Good list and simple. I would suggest replacing item 6 (which is partly covered in 7) with a positive statement about sharing. It seems to me you certainly need to include something like:

6. Sharing is important and fulfilling. Remember that when you share knowledge it multiplies. Be generous in your interactions younger colleagues.

Instead of a present, here is a link to Bad Boss http://www.workingamerica.org/badboss/about.cfm

[Rex Hammock]

Thanks for a wonderful reminder of what are the keys to success in life, not just business.

[DW from the Bay area]

8. The best test of a person's character is how he or she treats those with less power.

10. Work is an over-rated activity.

Great post. 8 and 10 are very true. I amazed at my colleagues who belittle or attempt to ridicule their subordinates...because they can. Very unprofessional!

Those who don't have a life outside of work are usually the ones belittling their subordinates.