home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Suzy B Software 2
/
Suzy B Software CD-ROM 2 (1994).iso
/
extras
/
textfile
/
discount
/
discount.asc
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-04-27
|
4KB
|
72 lines
AUTO-DISCOUNTING
by Robert Boys
Do you need to stifle your peers' or subordinates' intuitive
and spontaneous creative ideas? Are you the ultimate authority
and need to suppress innovative ideas that you do not own? Are
you unable or unwilling to solve problems in a creative manner
and want to make sure no one else around you does? Do you want
to drag everyone else down to your level of non-creativity? Is
it easier to say "no" rather than "yes" which would run the risk
of someone else besting you in a group situation? Are you
afraid that other people's accomplishments will have a
detrimental effect on your career and image? Well,
Auto-discounting is probably the tool you will use to accomplish
these goals.
I consider Auto-discounting, along with perfectionism, to be a
curse to those afflicted with it. Auto-discounting is when a
person or a group automatically discounts or belittles a
statement or opinion by another, before that person can fully
explain their position. I call it "Auto" because it is an
unconscious reflex action. Auto-discounting may be found in all
aspects of human interaction including social, business and
educational areas and almost everyone has done it. It is very
damaging to innovative and risky thinking in that it to puts
pressure on people to conform to existing ideas and norms.
I have noticed this lately in my third year business classes in
university where some interesting and also some truly unusual
ideas have been postulated, and rather than being discussed and
debated by the class, they have been met with discounting moans
from a significant portion of the class. Even if some of these
ideas are somewhat eccentric they should be considered as useful
contributions in the class as part of the learning process.
People with brilliant ideas have often initially been met with
a great deal of scepticism, but to their credit, have persisted
in their beliefs and as a result have made huge contributions to
our society. Explorers, scientists, social innovators and
inventors routinely encounter auto-discounting, at least until
their projects work or they win the Nobel Prize! When there is
a new or unusual problem to be solved for which there is no
ready-made solution available, the solution will be novel and
unusual which is exactly the type most likely to be
auto-discounted.
I wonder how many discoveries throughout the ages have been
delayed or ruined through the Auto-discounting of simple-minded
people. Do not think that this phenomenon occurs only in
scientific circles. It is present in and causes damage and lost
productivity in all aspects of life. When the phrase "It won't
work" or "can't be done" is heard, auto-discounting is at work.
How much money could this be costing at your place of business?
American electronics firms and auto makers said these very
words two decades ago about the approaching Japanese industrial
complex. Today these industries have suffered serious damage,
even total destruction. Have you seen many domestic TV's,
stereos or VCR's for sale in a store lately ? We are now facing
serious competitive challenges in this country with the new
global economy. Auto-discounting will present formidable yet
unnecessary hurdles for us to overcome.
Copyright 1992
Robert Boys
73 Knighstwood Blvd.
Guelph, Ontario
CANADA
N1E 3W6
Please feel free to use this for your personal use or with your friends,
co-workers. Kindly allow the credit to remain.