Constructive Thinking
Constructive thinking is rarely used when it comes to setting individual and company goals (as companies are a reflection of the individuals that operate them). In my corporate career, I had the privilege and opportunity to observe retail, marketing, and global operations firsthand from an HR perspective as well as from a C-suite perspective. All aspects of each business unit had their pain points, but most of them existed in leadership. The district managers were not productive in their execution from global and vice versa. Therefore, when it came down to executing needs at a store level, most was lost in politics and the remainder in lack of articulation of global directives. This applies to two of the fortune 50 companies I’ve worked with, with each company’s history spanning over 100 years. Despite their seniority, there was a lack of critical thinking at the top. That direct reflection caused confusing, unnecessary complications and, at times, internal chaos all because of the absence of construction in terms of thinking.
Constructive thinking is the infrastructure for a productive life and the lifeline architecture to a profitable business. Without it, all aspects of the business will be in dysfunction. That is until the dysfunction leads to the easily avoidable tradition synonymous with business (especially in terms of large corporations): downsizing.
As we’ve seen in the economy, colleges (which, to me, run like corporations), and any other massive, respected business; they all lack a constructive thought process to which they are never held accountable. Money allows fractured, unhinged bias to cover up a lack of lean and functional decisions. In a micro-economy like a family, that could be the difference in a mother and father being able to feed their household. Unfortunately, impressive business is praised based on how much money is made and how big a company is as opposed to what is done with the money and how lean it can operate. Therefore the incentives favor the bold and irresponsible, not the bold and brave. I’m not demonizing anyone in power or their position as I’m sure in one way or another they have earned their place, wherever they sit. What I am identifying that holds merit is a flawed thought process that — if optimized by constructively thinking of a solution that allows both the consumer as well as the business to profit — would make the ultimate business case for the business. Many corporate policies define procedure, decorum, and, most evidently, culture. However, honesty is the best policy as being clever is not synonymous with being smart (despite widespread consensus).
When is the last time you thought about a major problem in your life constructively before lunging into impulsive action (as we all have done at some point in our lives)?
