A635.1.3.RB_BorutyAlan_21st
Century Enlightenment
After viewing Matthew Taylor’s (2010) animated presentation,
21st Century Enlightenment, I
had to think about why I was asked to watch the video in the first place. What was the message I was supposed to hear? These were not easy questions for me to answer. How can I know what he meant versus wat he
said? The truth is I cannot know with
certainty. I watched Taylor’s
presentation a number of times trying to ‘get it’ or find its hidden
meaning. It simply was not there. When I stopped trying to hear what was not
said, I could hear what was said.
Most would agree that the world in the 21st
Century is more advanced, has access to more information, and has the benefit
of technology that simply did not exist in the previous century. As a result, we know more, can learn more,
and can do it faster and more accurately than ever before. So why is it that when faced with the question
of enlightenment, do we think about it the way we always have. It will simply produce the answers we got in
the past.
Taylor (2010) may have titled his presentation 21st Century Enlightenment to
indicate a new starting point for the question. Perhaps the answer we get will
be different, more accurate, or provide insight that has not been considered
before. I think most of us have experienced
this in our lives. Until we have all of
the information on any subject, we cannot be sure our answer is correct. Asking the question of enlightenment today
assumes that we should apply all of the learning we have compiled since the
last time we asked the question. Moving
closer to the correct answer demands it.
For a long time, I had a definition of success that
included financial freedom, being the recognized expert in my chosen career,
and occupying a powerful position within my field of expertise. This definition drove my behavior, my
attitude and my outlook. In short, it
controlled the way I lived my life. As
long as that was my perception, that was the way I lived my life. It did not matter that I was not happy in
other areas. As long as I sought success
and as long as I defined success in that manner, the way I lived could not
change. After experiencing a couple of events that made me question my thinking
about success, I changed the definition I had for success. When I did, everything
changed. I live a significantly
different and more enjoyable life today as a result. Taylor (2010) said if we are to live differently,
we must think differently. We are
creatures of habit. Different viewpoints
and perspectives offer us options we did not have using our old thinking.
Resisting our tendencies to consider familiar things good
and strange things bad follows the logic of gathering all the information or having
a complete understanding of a subject before passing judgement on that
subject. Many people find it easy to
fall into this trap, myself included. An
ethics class I recently took taught me that not everything is as simple as you
might expect. Genetic modification was
always something I was against. Images
of cloned sheep came to mind every time the subject came up. After doing research and learning more about
the processes and the possibilities that the science holds, I changed my mind. Ending world hunger, curing the deadliest
diseases are possibilities that are arguably within the reach of genetic
modification today. I’m not trying to
sway any beliefs anyone may have. Solid
arguments exist on both sides of the issue.
But, because I looked a little closer my assessment changed. Taylor understands these tendencies can cause
us to misjudge something too important to get wrong.
Taylor (2010) holds that the path to enlightenment is one
of self -aware autonomy where we each seek to discover our empathic capacity. To determine our true capacity, we should
reject the things that make us think of others negatively. I do believe it is possible to apply what we
know about human behavior in a positive way.
It is just as easy to see others in a positive light as we do negatively. Offering respect and recognizing the worth of
others is possible. However, to do that
we need to know who we are and be comfortable with our existence. I hate to say doing so goes against our normal
behavior but it is a sad truth. This is
what Taylor (2010) means when he says we must live differently in the 21st
Century. A lofty goal but one worth
pursuing and one that can be achieved if we change our thinking.
Organizational change is an organization-wide project
(Browm, 2011). Involving everyone
implies that everyone has something to offer.
Taylor (2010) tells us that this should inspire us to respect and value
others. It should not create an unhealthy competition. All OD activities need to understand this in
order to get the best ideas and therefor the most out of OD. Otherwise full employee participation is not
possible.
This is the lesson I can put to use immediately in my
career. Offering the respect and value
to the people with whom I come in contact can be seen as the beginning of a collaborative
relationship which will make both of us better in time. Anything else is time consuming, counterproductive,
and ultimately leaves the both of us less capable.
I do not know that this presentation sparked additional
questions in me, but it certainly highlighted areas and situations that I need
to be careful of my own tendencies. It
also helped me to think about how to change they way I think in some situations.
~Pete
References
Brown, D. R. (2011). An experiential approach to
organization development (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Prentice Hall.
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