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REFLECTIONS

An Emerging Cancel Culture In Organizations

By Christian Masika

There is a luhyia saying that loosely translates to mean the one who goes out at dawn to hunt does not fear catching dew . This packs important piece of advice for entrepreneurs and workers as they arrive on the scene .

Many times entrepreneurs start businesses faced with many obstacles . They may start with borrowed resources often with no clients , only prospects . Perhaps those who are lucky can point to a network to activate . They will be few and far between . Historical statistics paint a grim picture and can provide intimidation instead of counsel . Their death has a timeline ; some do six years or seven but majority will be wound up by the fifth annivesary . So time is not their friend .
But every river has a source . A river ’ s source is always on higher ground . The start of a business is from higher ground . A powerful autosuggestion , a big push , an empathetic ear , a connecting hand . These things are important .
Many businesses were saved from early closure by an institution that gave them the first order or a manager that accepted to finance the order or a supplier that gave ample credit period . They are the silent heroes in the success story .
In the many conversations with successful business owners , they do not forget to give credit to these heroes . They are what children call guardian angels . They lend their backs to those beginners and allow the climb . When they choose to take a chance on someone or something , they make impossibilities become possible . So yes .. lets take a chance on a new sport , take a chance on a new business idea , take a chance on a new creation , just take a chance … even on what is scaringly different !
Oh sorry for that dream . Let ’ s come back to what is now global currency ! CNN reported recently of a trend among millenials where individuals are more likely to bottle it or reject than to accept or support others . They actively look for reasons to decline . In a team , they stiffle everything that sounds different . In any decision that carries an iota of risk , they are predictably taking the straight and narrow path . They fear difference . Conversations are fine but their actions are predictable . Zero risk , zero chance .
Perhaps you have gone into meetings with such people . In companies setting prequalification guideline for suppliers , they introduce impossible clauses for start-ups . In recruiting talent for a job or event , they are looking for kindred replacements and are scared to try what looks different .
They are your regular managers or panelists that have perfected routines and rigidities of organizational cultures and narrowly define them . The outliers have no chance at all ! They call off appointments for the flimsiest of reasons and can cancel your order without batting an eyelid ! They love to cancel .
Organizations created boundaries to cushion against irrational decisions that would expose them to unnecessary risks . They have a good reason for boundaries . But boundaries are not an end in themselves . They are simply guides that must be traded with care and ingenuity .
Today ’ s organization faces greater risk from management decisions that are born of fear rather than reason . Tomorrow ’ s products and services are waiting to be born by risk-taking managers . Tomorrow ’ s employers are waiting to be leveraged by risk-taking managers and organizations . Tommorrow ’ s leaders are waiting to be elected by risk-taking voters . Sometimes to live is to risk it !
But cancel behaviour may also result from weak systems and unclear boundaries in the organization . People are unsure and can become victims of organizational weaknesses . Nothing frustrates like being in a situation where one is damned if they act and damned if they don ’ t .
Christian Masika is a seasoned media consultant currently working as a creator at Media Touch Limited . You can commune with him vide mail at : CMasika2 @ yahoo . com .
68 MAL42 / 21 ISSUE