(This is the first of a 3 part series)
I used to think monsters were only make believe and for children, but they are real and they exist at your work.
I’m on a plane bound for Dallas Texas to visit a friend and mentor. Enter Lewis Gordon, size 50 shoulders, full, thick beard with strands of curly silver woven within. The plane is nearly full and he eyes the open middle seat next to me. He then perceives all 6 foot 5 of me.
Dr. Lewis Gordon (Used with permission)
A look flashes in his eyes, acknowledging it would take a crowbar to wedge our larger-than-average frames together. He politely suggests he will find a more comfortable spot, but as he looks around, every seat as been filled by impatient travelers.
As Mr. Gordon sits, he offers up a verbal shoehorn to help ease both of us into the tight fit. Pointing at the book in my hand, he asks, “What are you reading?”
“’Masterful Coaching’. It’s something for my business. What do you have there?” I asked as I reciprocated the pointing.
“Oh something I wrote. It is on how humanity no longer listens to monsters and the monsters have lost their voice.”
“What?!”, I thought to myself. “ Did we once hear monsters, and why does it matter?” Lewis insists it does matter, and it matters more we no longer are paying attention. Monsters are an actual warning.
He begins to lay out the facts: The word “monster” comes from the Latin root “monere”, which means a warning or omen. In antiquity (roman and Greek stories) monsters were a warning to humanity that some disaster was about to occur unless humans did something quickly to change their ways. Through stories, monsters represented real world issues.
By now I have learned Mr. Gordon is actually Dr. Gordon of Temple University, Brown University and the University of West Indies in Jamaica. He received his doctorate of philosophy from Yale at age 31. Atypical of some heady philosophers, when we are talking, I’m not talked down to. Nor does he expect me to “know” his world of academics, and he easily explains a term or concept unfamiliar to me.
At one point, Dr. Gordon states, “Disasters are the fault of humans, because they don’t listen to the warnings.” I was perplexed at how this man could make a broad, flippant remark, so I asked for an example and he referred to Haiti. “The same (magnitude) earthquake happened in San Francisco, and it had little impact.” I objected to his example saying a “natural disaster” was out of the realm human influence. That is where he had me. Dr. Gordon pointed out “natural events” humans can not control, but “natural disasters” are indeed our fault. Going back to Haiti. “Pressures were placed on Haitians to cut corners, to have few options but to have a near nonexistent infrastructure through which, as in San Francisco, they are able to have quakes without fatalities.” It would not have been a disaster had people lived by a higher moral standard. (My comment) If you are thinking poverty prevented them from resources, ponder which came first, corruption or poverty? Then ponder what we are headed towards in America.
This brought him to his point of why monsters have lost their voice: The world is saying intellect is more important than morals. (I will write on this in in the next postings). People would rather been seen as smart than moral. Monsters are a symbol of immorality, and when people are looking to be more intelligent, they are not listening to the language monsters speak.
Monsters are not immoral in of themselves; they are a symptom of things gone badly. Some come to right wrongs, and others are the direct product of destructive behavior. Again, they are a warning life is out of balance.
Dr. Gordon never spoke of Judeo-Christian values directly, nor said the Haitian’s suffered because of their own corruptness alone (like some TV evangelists). His message is more global and broad. We, as a whole, are responsible to care for those around us by doing what is right, not what is only smart. Being smart is not always right. Hedging bets at the possible expense of others… covering your back… watching out for your career by positioning another person out… squeezing out every drop of profit… “I should do this even if I don’t want to because it is the smart, socially acceptable move”. These are all examples of what is smart, but is not always right.
My mind easily turned to the work place. When I talk to people about the discontent they have feel about work, they are unknowingly talking about monsters. Huge looming issues and concerns that do not go away. The trouble is most discontent workers are trying to out think the symptoms and missing the message of what needs to be done to do right. Instead of listening, they react by thinking a better position, more money, extra time off, or a new company will make the pain go away. Then disaster strikes. Sometimes they are laid off or fired. It can be as simple as being passed over for promotion. Sometimes divorce transpires from the imbalance between home and work life. They missed the warning and are now stunned at how it could have all happened.
Here are the two messages I know to be missed the most often:
- There is something wrong with the way the company and I fit.
- There is something wrong with the way I fit in my position.
Each requires a different solution and often the solutions are mixed up. Yes, the answers have a moral core. Before reacting, listen to which monster is calling your name. It could be both. Even when you know which one it is, seek to know why. The why is always more important than the what.
In part 2 we will look at your moral obligation to follow your heart at work.
~cb
Dr. Lewis Gordon was a high school teacher in NYC where he founded the Second Chance program. Started grad school at 28 to explore the problem of human potential. Written 11 books and is the Director of the Institute for the Study of Race and Social Thought at Temple University.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Gordon you can visit his Temple University website page.
