The opposite of rational is not necessarily irrational If you study creativity, you will likely come across a list of roadblocks that thwart new ideas. Many such lists take the form of phrases spoken by those opposed to change. Typical entries include, “We’ve always done it that way,” “We tried that once and it didn’t work,” and “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” You nod your head in recognition; you’ve certainly heard each phrase and many variations. You’ll usually find suggestions how to remove these roadblocks. Most likely, the guidance revolves around the premise that the roadblocks result from the negative characteristics of those opposing change, such as prejudice, bad habits,and laziness. The answer? Now that you’ve been enlightened, you can educate them that they’re being “irrational” and they will see the error of their ways. Show them that they’re jumping to conclusions based on their prejudices and they’ll realize that they need to act based on facts and not opinions. Show them that they’re in a rut and they’ll grab the wheel, yank it to one side, and emerge onto untrodden ground. To paraphrase actor Cuba Gooding’s character in the movie “Jerry McGuire,” simply “Show them the rationality!” Armed with your newfound knowledge, you try it and quickly realize that the opposition is much more formidable than you had thought. Your main weapon – rationality – ends up being a rather dull sword. Though you hack away with all your might, you are barely able to knick the surface, much less penetrate to the heart. You, the champion of meaningful change, retreat and leave status quo in possession of the field. Gary Myers, Epsilon Engineering
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 04:57:21 +0000
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