Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Some matters are certain in my mind. Others are a bit fuzzy behind a veil of doubt and cause me to argue with myself. There are times for both situations.

Some things are fuzzy in my mind. I am not certain about them. I have to argue with myself. I start a sentence, but pause after a couple of words and interject, “Yeah, that little situation is true, but you haven’t considered some other factors fully, and you really should…”

I argue with myself for a while. When things go well, I am able to argue enough to clear the doubt and bring the situation to certainty. Ah, certainty.

As with most things (and now I argue with myself about this), there are times and places for both.

I am sitting in a restaurant as I write this piece. The waiter arrives at the table and explains the menu. Certainty. I want certainty. No hesitation, no pause, tell me certainly what is on the fish in today’s special.

Yesterday my colleagues and I were discussing a new and complex situation. We needed pauses, interjections, considerations of other factors, and some arguments. We moved towards, but did not reach, certainty. There will be another day to resume that discussion.

Now to the lesson for the manager: there are times to doubt and argue and there are times for certainty. Recognize which is which and proceed accordingly.