Here’s a recent post from entrepreneur and risk taker Seth Godin.
Seth’s writing as usual encourages risk taking. His job is to motivate and engage entrepreneurs and I rarely read him suggesting prudence. He’s all about the maxim “He who hesitates is lost”, rather than “look before you leap”.
“The purpose of the modern organization is to make it easy and natural and expected for people to take risks. To lean out of the boat. To be human.”
Alas, most organizations do the opposite. They institutionalize organized cowardice. They give their people cover, a place to hide, a chance to say, “that’s not my job.”
Our organizations are filled with people not only eager to dehumanize those that they serve, but apparently, instructed to do so. In the name of shareholder value or team play or not rocking the boat…
“During times of change, the only organizations that thrive are those that are eager to interact and change as well. And that only happens when individuals take brave steps forward.”
Giving your team cover for their cowardice is foolish. Give them a platform for bravery instead.” (From Seth’s Blog)
There’s more than enough encouragement in our own instinctive being not to take risks. We are hardwired to underperform.
I read Seth from time to time because in business, art and life there is more reward, more fun and more reason to take risks and sometimes you need inspiration to take the risks.