Development and thinking

This is a great time for me – full of testing experiences and stimulating opportunities. Questions crop up in large numbers and among them one has been standing out ever since I arrived. Why do local people look up to Europeans?

I have come to understand that it is largely because of the level of development we enjoy in Europe. Recently I came across a book entitled ‘Why are Asians less creative than Europeans?’ and it made me stop and think. I wouldn’t ever dare to generalize in such a way but in case there is a grain of truth to it, let’s explore this one more in depth.

I believe that one of the forming elements of every culture is the climate in which it is constrained. For example, in central Europe the temperature amplitude is roughly 50C (-15 to +35), while in Malaysia it shouldn’t be more than 15C (+20 to +35). The former requires people to be flexible in terms of clothes, transportation or food to mention a few, the latter – as it is incessantly so hot – makes people look for shortcuts, no matter if on roads or when dealing with authorities.

I also believe that the underlying issue of development on both a personal and national scale is thinking and the whole attitude to it. This is what M. Scott Peck has to say on this:

Simplism is inefficient and the lazy way out. No progress is possible when illegitimate shortcuts in thinking are taken in order to avoid the legitimate effort and suffering that accompany the discipline of problem-solving. Not only is simplism a means by which to harbor the illusion that there are easy answers, it is a sure path to becoming rigid and stuck.

Is this the answer for development? Avoid shortcuts, accept suffering – it certainly holds true for me and I would wholeheartedly encourage people to probe this attitude.

Note: This is not meant to offend anyone, but purely to provoke more questions. I’m well aware of my limited knowledge. Being in search of question and answers, being in the process of learning in other words, means exploring various ways forward and yes, making mistakes...

The biggest lie...

... promoted by various of our social institutions is that we’re here to be happy all the time. We’re bombarded by business, the media, and the church with the lie that we’re here to be happy, fulfilled, and comfortable. For motives of profit, the lies of materialism and advertising suggest that if we’re not happy, comfortable, and fulfilled, we must be eating the wrong cereal or driving the wrong car. Or that we must not have it right with God. How wicked! The truth is that our finest moments, more often than not, occur precisely when we are uncomfortable, when we’re not feeling happy or fulfilled, when we’re struggling and searching.

-- M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled and Beyond

A letter to NAC 2004 delegates

Dear All

As I got some food for thought at NAC 2004 I feel this obligation to keep the ball rolling. Let me therefore express some of the ideas which sprang to mind every now and then during the sessions.

I believe that diversity ought to be always treasured to begin with. It means that AIESEC should keep taking on non-members and send them abroad as trainees. This will ensure development and progress within the organization being challenged by outsiders.



I also feel it necessary to point out that AIESEC as an organization is just a means, the ultimate goal is life of an individual within society. The nearly obsession with systems, charts, diagrams and all this marketing-like AIESEC-labelled stuff is in my opinion pointless as long as there is no relation to real experience. Do give me a learning life cycle, for instance, and do let a person who went through it talk about it. Make it personal, relate it to life and I will follow.

You are all zealous would-be leaders striving for personal excellence. There is much to admire. Yet it seems to me that there is still a lot of empty space to colour in this field. So let me raise some questions. First and foremost, how do you define leadership? What does it mean to be a leader? How many leaders have you met? What is it that makes you feel they are leaders? Do other people around you share the same opinion?

So far I have met only one person who I call my spiritual leader ever since. If I were to define elements of leadership I would understandably describe him:
- knowledge and awareness (across subjects, continents and time)
- skills (hard and soft – mainly social or interpersonal)
- personal traits (humility, compassion, resilience, consideration, industriousness, commitment and responsibility)
- experience
- wisdom
- faith
- love

To me to promote leadership means to develop all elements which is inevitably a life-long commitment of hard work.

Now, let me give you a concrete example. Looking back on NAC sessions I can understand why latecomers were singled out. It was fun, AIESEC creates an environment in which such things may work. However, from a teacher’s point of view, if you want to crush someone’s self-confidence do exactly the same thing. If you want to instill fear and obedience in the class do exactly the same thing. If you want to control your students do... Of course, teachers do not have to be leaders, but leaders definitely have to be teachers and such things are way far from leadership.

Finally, may I put forward this idea that next time we would do it all upside-down? The speaker would be the one who would have to do silly things should there be any latecomers. I believe this would promote leadership much more than anything else. Leaders have to suffer for others and their faults. In a sense, Jesus did the same thing. And 2000 years after his death millions of people believe in his leadership...

Will be glad to get your comments on this one

Take care

Jiri

Life x career

Perhaps I’m not in control of my career but I believe I’m in control of my life.