Battle scars

You have an idea.

You know your idea can improve your E&C program and, as a bonus, your corporate culture.

But it’s never been done before. Your idea sounds strange to anyone who hears it for the first time. And you work for a conservative organization that sees risk over opportunity in every change. If you share your idea, you might get laughed out of the room.

What do you do?

It’s a very personal decision but it comes down to answering this question: what do you care most about?

If you care more about playing it safe and fitting in, you keep your idea to yourself. You can’t fail and you can’t be blamed for trying something that didn’t work.

If you care more about growing and learning and contributing to your organization’s improvement, then you make your pitch. You tell a story, one showing that you come from a good  place, with a good intent. You admit at the outset that it might not work. And that’s OK because you’ll either win or learn. Vulnerability connects people.

And battle scars are attractive*.