June 12, 2009

“Living in his world does have advantages.  Most of the time he doesn’t even know enough to be embarrassed by his comments.”

So where do I begin to explain the setting for this quote?  Most likely, I could begin it in just about any business environment and you would be able to relate to it quite well.  We all have watched children who know no fear because they don’t know enough to be scared.  This quote is simply demonstration that not knowing things isn’t limited to children.  In fact, there seems to be a growing executive population who enjoys a fear free existence.

You have heard the comments these folks make and have likewise mustered up all of your courtesy and respect to provide a response.  Oftentimes, the best response to such individuals is to recognize their “contribution” and then move forward as quickly as possible, hoping that their little nugget doesn’t derail the real thinking in which others may be involved.

On this occasion, an executive entered a conference room to interrupt a meeting to which he was not invited.  He had heard we were meeting and wanted to weigh in.  His comments were in no way related to the topic at hand.  Nonetheless, deference was granted.  He spoke nonsense.  He left the room about five minutes after he entered and about four and a half minutes after he had exhausted any remotely plausible knowledge of the subject.

As soon as the door closed, these words rang out from across the room, “Living in his world does have advantages.  Most of the time he doesn’t even know enough to be embarrassed by his comments.”

The door reopened.  The executive returned to request that he specifically be invited to the next session on the topic at hand.  He departed again.  The discussion changed immediately to the theory of whether embarrassment could occur without the embarrassed feeling even the slightest bit uncomfortable or self-conscious.  I’ll leave it for you to decide, but get ready; you’ll undoubtedly have the opportunity to witness this growing phenomenon soon.     

June 12, 2009