We Need More Radical Thinking

It is too bad that when we hear the word radical the first thought of many is some political extremist group. But if you look up the definition of radical at Merriam-Webster you get the following:
  • very different from the usual or traditional
  • favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions
  • associated with political views, practices, and policies of extreme change
  • advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs
We know the last two so well, but it is the first two that we need more of. Too often we fall back into old habits and routines, when what we need is a very different take on the traditional. 

It is a shame that our existing views on our work becomes so standard. We get stuck in the routines of our day-to-day jobs and how things are supposed to happen and rarely take the time to ask why. I'm sure you've heard the response before, "Because we've always done it that way." Yet, we are the ones that are complaining because what we view as simple changes that would make everything better don't get made.

The traditional policies and usual procedures are probably in place for a reason. Rather than complaining about them, let's begin asking questions about what we need to do to improve the process without compromising on the policies in place. Let's figure out a way to change a procedure so it is more efficient but not change any of the outcomes or have any missteps during the transition. To do that we may need to think a bit radically, look for extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions. I'm okay with that though, because we need more radical thinking around here.


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