Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

The infamous question in the title might as well be, “What can we do to kill this good idea?”

We found something that works well for. We have used it several times. We intend to keep using it.

Then someone asks the deadly question, “Will it scale?”

They want to know when they can spread the good idea to everyone in the corporation or government agency. They want to get famous for spreading the idea.

What they are doing is killing the idea. The big place is not the same as the little place. The people aren’t the same. The relationships among the people aren’t the same.

How about something simpler, less ambitious, and more human? Those folks over there found something that works for them. Good for them. They aren’t us. There isn’t here. Still, let’s talk to them and learn a few things. Maybe we can try some of what they did and find what works here, with us, at this place, in this time.

Scale? Maybe. That, however, isn’t the big goal. Having a pleasant and productive workplace is a better goal. At least I think so.