Can we really change the world?

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I recently attended a Billy Bragg concert. For those of you unfamiliar with Billy, he's an international folk singer -- much like an English version of Bob Dylan or Woodie Guthrie (visit www.billybragg.co.uk for more information). Like many folk singers before him, Billy is an activist and humanitarian, using music to raise awareness.

In between songs, Billy would talk on various subjects, and answer questions from the audience. Someone asked, "Can a singer really change the world?"

Billy spoke of his ability only to bring together a diverse group of people and give them the hope that change can happen through their efforts. He said that all change begins with two people getting together and deciding to try. And that the greatest threat to global changes is not capitalism or socialism, but CYNICISM.

We face the same dynamics in the workplace. For a company to be heroic, they have to inspire a diverse group of people to come together to make a difference. But oftentimes a certain "corporate cynicism" begins to take hold, keeping people from believing their efforts can change anything.

This corporate cynicism can show up in many forms. Do any of the following phrases sound familiar?

"We just don't do it that way around here."
"We tried that and it didn't work."
"Oh, Management (or my boss, or HR, etc.) would NEVER go for that!"
Or as in last issue's story, "Who's going to pay for that?"

Corporate cynicism is the hammer that repeatedly bashes us over the head and says, "Don't bother, it's not worth trying".

How do we overcome corporate cynicism so we can be heroic? Perhaps the first step is to recognize where it might exist and why. Then once you're aware of it and have identified it, you must become an evangelist who decides that cynicism is NOT going to win here -- no matter whether you're the CEO or the newest hire.

To be heroic you have to not only BELIEVE you can be heroic, but you must CHOOSE to be heroic. What good would Superman be if he sat back and said, "Hey, I know I can leap tall buildings in a single bound...and this X-Ray vision thing is pretty cool...but I'm just gonna sit here and chill." (Or worse, use his special powers for personal gain?)

Would he be a legend? Or a cautionary tale? And more to the point today, what about you?

Click here to share your favorite "corporate cynicism" quote or phrase with us. We'll post them in in an upcoming issue, along with any ideas you're willing to share about how to overcome them.

Lisa and the Creative Abandon team