We all went to school. Some of us may have learned more than others, some of us may have been in different types of schools, but essentially we all went through the same (or practically similar) educational system.
This system shaped what you do and believe today and your success today is influenced very much by those foundational years in school.
This image is taken of an actual public school in NSW. It is not necessary to be more specific, but images like that abound. Can you remember if words like these were used ‘as a charter’ at your school?
It would have been something an ambitious principle dreamt up and tried to shape the culture of the school accordingly.
If I as a parent saw this at a school where I may have had plans to take my kids, I would have worked very hard to get them into a different school.
If you look at those words what do you see?
Do you think I am nuts? What kind of parent would not want to have their kids adopt that charter as their value system?
I, for one, would not.
Read these insights from John Gatto, about the American educational system.
Schools intend “to make children as alike as possible. People who conform are predictable, and this is of great use to those who wish to harness and manipulate a large labor force.”
And he quotes H.L. Mencken on the aim of American education: “The aim… is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality.”
When I read those four words on the wall of that public school, I translate them to one idea: CONFORMITY.
Those words are not there to encourage kids to try things; they don’t exhort them to aim high or not to fear anything. There is no excitement, challenge or sense of purpose.
Those four words are there to make the school easier to govern: responsibility, respect, co-operation and safety.
Those four words are about the teachers, not about the kids.
Maybe you were taught by teachers at a school like that. Mr Chips exist in real life and some of you may have had one of those, but I guess that would the minority.
This post is not about the educational system in this country, though it is thoroughly stuffed, but is about you and your business.
- These are the question you should ponder and answer for yourself because it is influencing how you do business the way you do:
- What was the lasting impact of those ‘values’ you were taught to put above all else?
- Do those beliefs you now hold as consequence empower you or limit you?
- What is the charter of your existing business?
- What is the value set by which you govern? Is it about you or is about the customers and employees?
- Do you understand the impact of these seemingly innocuous decisions?
If you have been battling to understand why your employees are not more motivated, and why your customers are not more loyal, it usually comes back to the value system that is in place. We put it in place without knowing that we do, and if we do, we often don’t fully appreciate the consequences (intended and otherwise)
How are the values that you are trying to put place influenced by those values of compliance and conformity that were drilled into you as a child?
USP. Niche. Segment. Point of Difference. Cut-through. Innovation. ALL THESE IDEAS require you to be original and think differently.
This is the million dollar question: Can you?
Or more pertinently:
With an educational system that values conformity and obedience above all, have you been equipped with the attitude to embrace change and enjoy challenges, or do you look to the government (or some authority figure or institution to fix things and control the environment for you the way they did in school?
Confronting, I know; but well worth a few moments of your time to as you embark on a new year with new challenges.
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