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Do Organizations Serve Us Or Do We Serve Organizations
We have seen an erosion in the confidence that society has in organizational leadership and its integrity recently with the numerous accounting scandals that have become public.Clearly this has led to the demise of several large organizations. In performance terms it is obvious that erosion of leadership integrity is not good for business. The integrity that exists within an organization either lives or dies with the mission statement and underlying values around which an organization functions. Often the mission and values focus on such things as organizational performance, customer service, quality products, profit goals etc. These are then used as guiding posts and navigational aids to lead and inform leaders and employees at all levels within the organization. Effectively, individuals then have to "integrate" themselves within the organizational directive in order to survive there. The organizational mission becomes an overarching theme in the lives of these individuals whether or not it is truly aligned with their own values and purpose in life. Of course most individuals are not in the habit of considering their values or purpose in life so they are only too happy to adopt someone else's in order to stem the inner feelings of insecurity that arise from not having their own. The organization then becomes a species in its own right and the individuals working within it have to alter their own values and purpose if they hope to remain a part of it. The problem arises however with the fact that organizational mission and values are often not aligned with basic human values. A clear example of this relates to the increasing number of hours that individuals find themselves working in a week and the increasing incidents of burnout related illness. Truly, I think anyone would say that this is not what he or she desires. So the organization has become an entity that runs individuals lives rather than a means for individuals to achieve their purpose in life. They serve the organization not the other way around. But wait a minute here, isn't an organization a "human" construct meant to further our goals, desires and purpose in alignment with our basic human values? After all don't we want to do something in life that gives us joy, happiness, peace of mind, that helps us expand our creative potential in meaningful ways, that furthers the quality of our lives and the lives of others on this planet and that protects our environment? Have we therefore given up our power to an entity that doesn't represent us? Is it possible to restore our rightful place in this equation and return the organization back into an instrument (or perhaps more accurately a process) that serves human values and humanity in general? If we come back to the issue of integrity it becomes clear that the integrity, that is the "survival", of the organization has become the imperative, not the integrity, that is the "wholeness", of the individual. Notice that I have used the concept of integrity in two different senses here. The individual loses her/his sense of wholeness by repressing his/her basic human core values, effectively "cutting off" important parts of themselves. This repression often occurs out of fear of not surviving and effectively is an unconscious way of "lying" to oneself about what is truly important to that individual. The behavior of lying to oneself is about being "dishonest" with ones' self or losing one's integrity or wholeness. At this point one might ask, is trying to survive not a basic human value? Well I might say that if given a choice an individual would rather "live" than just try to "survive". Yet because the fear is so powerful most of us have even lost a sense of what it means to live. The idea of survival has a negative feeling attached to it for most people. It's a feeling of just getting by and for no other purpose. It begins to feel like a meaningless exercise. Living however feels more positively motivating and full of potential. It in fact encompasses most of the human values for joy, peace of mind, creativity, etc. that I mentioned earlier. Now if you follow me so far I think you are beginning to see that the problem of integrity has something to do with how we as individuals have been conditioned to react out of fear throughout our lives. It is clear that there is a lot to be afraid of as we are growing up in an uncertain world. It is this accumulated fear that we carry around that ultimately undermines our integrity (sense of wholeness and sense of personal honesty) in the long run. Coaching for Organizational Integrity is about restoring our sense of wholeness and sense of personal honesty. This will allow us then to have the awareness of what we truly desire for ourselves and possibly enhance our courage to pursue it. Its premise rests on the observation that our conditioned responses to life long trauma become associated with limiting negative beliefs about others our environment and ourselves. Below is a short example of an exercise that I have used with individuals in my coaching practice to help them go beyond internal limitations to a place of greater awareness and self determination Example: A sales executive selling water treatment equipment is under pressure to meet his sales quota for this month. The economy is in a slump and he knows he will be unduly pressured to explain why his performance is slipping. He generally likes his job and has felt that his mission in life has been to help improve the environment and offer customers a product that they will truly get health benefits from. But under recent pressure he has started to doubt his sales abilities and this has inhibited him from being his normal ebullient self. He has started to have fears of failing and worries that he might get fired if he doesn't meet his monthly quota. Analysis of Situation: There are a number of beliefs that this individual is unconsciously entertaining that need to be addressed: 1. His doubts about himself suggest that deep down he "doesn't believe that he is capable of succeeding". This is evident because if he knew with certainty that he could succeed doubt about this would never arise. 2. His fears of failing suggest that he " believes he could fail". This is evident because if he knew with certainty that he would never fail this thought would never arise. 3. The worry suggests he "believes the quality of his life would be made worse with failure to meet his quota". Now from the standpoint of integrity the highlighted beliefs clearly are not doing him any good. They are causing him to turn against himself; they create anxiety, confusion, inhibition, and ultimately reduced performance. We therefore have an individual who is "disintegrating" not one who is "integrated" or "whole". So why would anyone accept these negative statements to be true? Well over our lives we unconsciously learn to accept such negative beliefs about ourselves based on the failed experiences we have had. Rationalizations form around these negative beliefs and anchor them in our minds, whether we want them there or not.Let me illustrate: 1. The negative belief " I don't believe I can succeed" is held in our unconscious by the rationalization: " Well if I believe this then I will work harder and I will succeed". In other words we unconsciously come to believe that this negative belief actually "helps us to succeed". 2. However when we look at the evidence the belief " I don't believe I can succeed" actually ushers in self-doubt, anxiety, fear, confusion, inhibition all of which ultimately lead to reduced performance and potential failure. There is no success in this picture. 3.The rationalization "Well if I believe this then I will work harder and I will succeed" is actually a "lie" we choose to accept as truth. By doing so it anchors the negative belief in our minds and makes us susceptible to its ravages. It is possible to make individuals aware of their negative beliefs and the rationalizations that anchor them. Additionally through a simple exercise, known as the Mind Resonance Process?, it is possible to permanently release this kind of unconscious material. This allows individuals to live with a greater sense of freedom in alignment with their own true values and desires. This freedom leads to enhanced motivation, joy, creativity and performance. The result is a more " integrated", "whole" individual. Such an individual is living, and working, from a place of power, creativity, joy, passion, etc. Clearly this is the kind of person any organization would value. Some of the benefits to the organization are increased performance, increased productivity, and a greater creative resource in employees fostering continued innovation. As employees become integrated in this way they will more effectively help shape the organizational process in ways that will make it serve the real needs of others in its environment. Copyright© 2005, Arrizza Performance Coaching Inc., All Rights Reserved Nick Arrizza MD, Presidient & Founder of Arrizza Performance Coaching Inc.,is an Organizational Psychiatrist, Executive, Life & Leadership Coach, Stress & Performance Researcher, Speaker and Workshop Leader. He has developed powerful tools known as the Mind Resonance Process? which he uses in his practice to enhance individual and organizational performance. He can be contacted through his Web Site at: http://www.telecoaching4u.com
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News) The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. Site: news - Google News New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority - New York Times
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for ethics Charges against Queens assemblyman amplifies calls for ethics reform (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) In the wake of charges by a federal prosecutor that a Queens assemblyman solicited $500,000 in bribes from people trying to influence state government, reform groups Thursday renewed their calls for tougher state ethics laws. Ethics panel clears Gibbons (Reno Gazette-Journal) A Nevada Ethics Commission panel concluded Thursday that there's no evidence to support a claim by a state Democratic Party official that Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons pressured a county assessor to get an unwarranted property tax break. Charges against assemblyman spur call for tighter ethics laws (The Journal News) Following charges by a federal prosecutor that an assemblyman from Queens solicited $500,000 in bribes from people trying to influence state government, reform groups yesterday renewed their calls for tougher state ethics laws. Ethics complaint filed against Loux over salary hikes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, filed an ethics complaint today against Nevada Nuclear Projects Agency chief Bob Loux. The complaint alleges that Loux improperly used his position to ?grant unwarranted privileges? to himself in violation of state ethics laws. House overrides ethics veto, 110-3 (Herald & Review) SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of a major campaign ethics bill. The question of whether to outlaw so-called pay-to-play politics now rests with the state Senate. Ethics complaint filed in pay raise flap (The Fresno Bee) The head of Nevada's anti-nuclear dump agency was hit Thursday with an ethics complaint filed by a legislative leader irate that the official gave himself and other staffers pay increases far above authorized amounts. Read comments Judge tells ethics luncheon 'Ethics is hard work' (Midland Reporter-Telegram) By Mella McEwen Oil Editor Ethics was the topic of Thursday's luncheon during the West Texas Geological Society's annual Fall Symposium. Ethics committee meets in secret (The Auburn Citizen) ALBANY - The New York Assembly's ethics committee met behind closed doors in an unannounced session Thursday involving a disciplinary case. Members wouldn't say if it concerned a colleague now facing federal charges of taking $500,000 in illegal payments, another accused of an extramarital affair with a legislative employee or a third accused of sexually harassing a woman. Ligon cleared of state ethics complaint (The Woodlands Villager) Attorney Brett Ligon, who defeated incumbent District Attorney Michael McDougal for the Republican nomination in the April runoff election, has been cleared of any wrongdoing regarding a complaint filed against him with the Texas Ethics Commission shortly before the runoff. Pelosi taps Va. Rep. Bobby Scott for ethics panel (Richmond Times-Dispatch) NEWPORT NEWS -- Virginia Representative Bobby Scott has been appointed to the House Ethics Committee. The Newport News Democrat said yesterday he was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the committee, formally known as the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. He will succeed Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the Ohio Democrat who died Aug. 20. Site: ethics - Google News Ethics Overhaul Sought in Massachusetts - New York Times
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