You are single-handedly squashing creativity, trust and your opportunity for real growth in one fell swoop if, in the workplace, you tolerate poor behaviour and a lack of care in the ideas people share. Yep, I said it. To quote Howard Beale from the movie NETWORK; 

“I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.”

Do I have your attention? So, what’s the big deal …. really?

Every single time you curb one’s enthusiasm, squash an idea because you don’t like it, you diminish one’s interest in wanting to contribute going forward.  Every time you’re not paying attention to what someone else is saying or show a lack of interest and common decency toward another, you stifle, muffle and basically HALT in its tracks any further creative flow. Period.

Why? Because no one will bother to share anything unless they HAVE to.

As a consultant/coach for the corporate, non-profit, entertainment, and start-up sectors, I see, experience, and hear this feedback from others every single day I’m in these working environments …. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY … and it HAS TO STOP. Yes, I’m frustrated. It doesn’t need to be this way. You can’t be expected to grow people and the company in this manner. It doesn’t work.

We tend to talk over one another, we are discourteous, and most importantly we tend not to listen. Why? Please tell me. I really want to know.

In today’s world where anxiety, depression and loneliness are on the rise, it’s more important than ever to pause and consider others.

Personally, I’m with the Brene Brown’s, Richard Branson’s, Simon Sinek’s and others who want to create a space for people to have a greater voice. To trust that they will be heard and not discounted.

Too often we play into the bully mentality as it seems so much easier than to experience the wrath of whatever negative consequences bring. I’ve heard time and time again that people who feel stifled would rather keep quiet than agitate these bullies in fear that things may get worse. And they typically do if there’s no resolve.

It takes a change in culture (no easy task) and rethinking to move people and a company’s growth forward. And yet, the results are remarkable. Gone should be the days when we pull a blind eye to the bullies because they’re your top sales people. That’s ridiculous. Imagine how many top talents you’d have if that one person muddying the waters were no longer there.

Change happens when we take action toward the goal of creating a healthier, more positive, and productive environment with a lot more listening going on.

It’s time.