Monday, January 22, 2007

Monday reflection

I change my opinion on things quite a lot.

Some managers may see this as a sign of weakness and lack of clear thinking. I prefer to believe I learn new things every day and therefore adjust my views as I pass through life learning all the time.

Just some Monday ramblings ....

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for you Trevor-being able and willing to change your mind is a sign of flexibility and open-mindedness. It is so easy to cling to our opinions and assumptions even when they are no longer of use to us or those around us, and even when the new evidence contradicts what we thought before. Trying to be right all the time consumes a lot of energy.

Trevor Gay said...

Thanks tomjam - I am with you on this. In management in the NHS it is often perceived as weakness to change one's mind. That is because management is still seen as a male dominated rational process/science rather than the truth - management is an art when practised properly.

Take care - hope you are well.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for asking Trevor-I am surviving!

I think that any opinion is by definition not the whole truth because none of us see the whole picture. I find when watching a programme like Question Time that I can be persuaded on an issue by one very eloquent argument and then find that the next person matches their eloquence in favour of a different opinion and I start to waver. I think of this as weakness, but it doesn't happen very much on subjects that I know a lot about. In this era of instant phone polls and soundbite politics it seems we are all expected to have an opinion on everything (especially politicians) when most of us if we're honest don't have the full picture of any issue. I think we should have an international "I don't know" day when we celebrate the fact that as human beings we're all pretty ignorant.Saying "I don't know" or "Actually, I've changed my mind" should be seen as a sign of honesty and maturity. All the Best!

Trevor Gay said...

Hi tomjam - I love your idea of an 'I don't know day' - let me know when you plan to organise it and I will be your fellow founder member.

In the meantime I will remain suspicious of any manager who says 'I KNOW that is the right answer'

Anonymous said...

Hi Trevor

Perhaps we should call it an "I know nothing!" day in honour of Manuel from Fawlty Towers

Trevor Gay said...

Basil as our Life president?