DISCLAIMER: The great thing about a Reading Seminar class is that it’s a “safe space”. So, for the sake of protecting that understanding, I’ll omit details and keep this at a high level.
Today was the last day of Reading Seminar for the quarter. We read and discussed Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”. At one point during today’s class, we discussed the different ways employees are motivated. Specifically, we talked about the need/desire for personal connections in the workplace and the depth to which that connection should be in order to motivate employees. This is going to be different for different people (and should be; we’re all unique and value different things). Accordingly, I have a certain perspective on this that’s rooted in my background, my experiences, my values, and my beliefs. More pointedly, I put a high value on privacy (you know, given that I’m a secret agent, I have five identities, four passports, and three families spread across 213 continents). This need for privacy and personal space manifests itself in my life in a myriad of ways and I’ve received that feedback previously–both directly and indirectly.
At one point, I was sharing my perspective with the class when the facilitator interrupted me:
Facilitator: Hold on; I’m going to do something I’ve never done before
Class: mumble, mumble
Facilitator: Everyone close your eyes, except Jackie
Class: mumble, mumble
Facilitator: Really, everyone close your eyes; Jackie, keep yours open
Class: (obliges)
Facilitator: Who would want to work for Jackie?
Class: (some hands raise)
Facilitator: Who would not want to work for Jackie?
Class: (some hands raise)
Facilitator: Who would want Jackie to work for them?
Class: (all hands raise)
Facilitator: Jackie, there you go.
Feedback.
Real-time.
Brilliant.
Can’t put a price tag on that.
Love b-school.
(Addendum: I’m grateful for the feedback and I hope to take it further in the near future; I thought this exercise was fascinating and I feel blessed to have had that opportunity)
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