Why We Stay and Why We Go

There is a whole host of reasons why we choose to do what we do—why we stay, and why we go. Some are due to fit with in our organizational role or position; and others may be due to or desire or need to search for something different or more, in a place that is new and fresh to us. Other times, our impatience or our lack of trust drives us to new terrain to explore and master. For those of us who nod yes to any or all of these reasons, we are not of the status quo. But there are those who passionately are, and for a different host of reasons, such as reliability, predictability, and security among many other valid reasons. Those of the status quo and those who are not form a living, breathing entity that is exemplified in the yin-yang symbol and in the light and dark images in the stories of organizational adventure I write.

Why do I paint the status quo with such a dark brush in my stories? I have mostly experienced those protectors of it as fearful, narrow-minded, and inflexible. These are qualities that lead an organization into darkness. I don’t blame the people who hold onto this viewpoint. They have reasons that are valuable to them. But the blind spots that damage people and progress occur when these two differing ways of seeing are not flowing like the yin-yang symbol depicts. They must flow around and through each other, informing and embracing each other, reflecting and enlightening each other. Unfortunately, this lovely concept feels like crap to execute. More on this and the fears that drive us next week!