One of the most dysfunctional beliefs of successful people is our contempt for simplicity and structure. We believe that we are above needing structure to help us on seemingly simple tasks.
Interpretation
Successful individuals often overlook the importance of simplicity and structure in achieving their goals.
This quote by Marshall Goldsmith highlights a common misconception among successful people: the belief that they can bypass basic structures and simplifications when tackling tasks. It suggests that this contempt for simplicity can lead to dysfunction, indicating that even the most accomplished individuals can benefit from clear guidelines and straightforward approaches to tasks, rather than overcomplicating them.
In practice
In a corporate workshop on productivity, this quote could be used to encourage team members to adopt simpler processes.
Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your best to set clear goals for yourself?' The former is trying to determine the employee's state of mind; the latter challenges the employee to describe or defend a course of action.
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God intends no man to live in this world without working, but it seems to me no less evident that He intends every man to be happy in his work.
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