Break the Monotony
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- Date Submitted: 02/06/2011 01:18 PM
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Break the Monotony
By: Richard Bila, Kat Forst, Ahmed Gaafar and Vincent Morgan
The business world is growing rapidly due to innovation and creativity in all markets, the old world view of climbing the corporate ladder by simply following the rules and making the boss happy are quickly dying. A new wave of non-conformity is upon us and as managers, employees and citizens it is in our best interest to break through the monotony and speak out with our instinctual creativity. Throughout this paper we will identify why not conforming to the norm can benefit not only the employee but the employer. We will also discuss how to motivate non-conformity and how non-conformists can be persuaded to work for your organization.
Conformity, what is it? One dictionary definition of conformity is “action in accordance with some specified standard or authority” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). That doesn’t sound too bad now does it? Most of us are taught from a young age both at home and at school how to conform. For example a UCLA survey from a few years ago reported that the average one year old child hears the word, “No!” more than 400 times a day. (Need Citation?) And haven’t we all heard going through our primary education years, “Don’t speak without raising your hand“, “Color inside the lines“, or “Walk, don‘t run“. While all of this helps children to grow up and join society as socially acceptable employees, the conformist mentality can restrict the creativity and independent thought which bring about progress.
So what is wrong with being “go with the flow”, “don’t rock the boat” or “well that’s how we have always done it“? Are there any dangers to conformity? Throughout history there are many examples of how conforming lead to a pack mentality. Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and 1940’s for example. The vast majority of the German people were not evil, they just went along with the crowd until eventually their need to conform outweighed their...
By: Richard Bila, Kat Forst, Ahmed Gaafar and Vincent Morgan
The business world is growing rapidly due to innovation and creativity in all markets, the old world view of climbing the corporate ladder by simply following the rules and making the boss happy are quickly dying. A new wave of non-conformity is upon us and as managers, employees and citizens it is in our best interest to break through the monotony and speak out with our instinctual creativity. Throughout this paper we will identify why not conforming to the norm can benefit not only the employee but the employer. We will also discuss how to motivate non-conformity and how non-conformists can be persuaded to work for your organization.
Conformity, what is it? One dictionary definition of conformity is “action in accordance with some specified standard or authority” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). That doesn’t sound too bad now does it? Most of us are taught from a young age both at home and at school how to conform. For example a UCLA survey from a few years ago reported that the average one year old child hears the word, “No!” more than 400 times a day. (Need Citation?) And haven’t we all heard going through our primary education years, “Don’t speak without raising your hand“, “Color inside the lines“, or “Walk, don‘t run“. While all of this helps children to grow up and join society as socially acceptable employees, the conformist mentality can restrict the creativity and independent thought which bring about progress.
So what is wrong with being “go with the flow”, “don’t rock the boat” or “well that’s how we have always done it“? Are there any dangers to conformity? Throughout history there are many examples of how conforming lead to a pack mentality. Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and 1940’s for example. The vast majority of the German people were not evil, they just went along with the crowd until eventually their need to conform outweighed their...