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Understand & Express Your Individuality


CONFORM, OR PERISHā€¦ IS THAT THE WAY?



Why do we let the world dictate to us? Don't use that colour with this, dont mix x spice with y, don't keep this dish with that, dont wear that with this, dont do this, dont do that? So, in other words, we live by external rules? No individual expression? Our self worth is determined by what others think? Is that how thinkers and creaters imagine the unimaginable? Perhaps the biggest aspect of this is that the deleterious impact of this sad habit which percolates and permeates into every sphere of human activity, including profession and family both.


LEARNING THE NEW, UNLEARNING THE OLD

There is little, if any, scope for true individuality. How can we grow out of our current ability and realise potential if we limit ourselves by this pressure to suppress individuality? This is central to imagination, growth, development, and forward / upwards movement.  How can we unlearn the old and learn the new if we ourselves constantly pressure others to conform to their ideals of behaviours, opinions, views? Every experiment is frowned upon; and every trial looked at with a combination of superiority complexed arrogance plus disdain.

There is a strong linkage of experimentation of any kind with the undesirable, which - combined with the social pressure to conform, plus an environment wherein questioning established opinions / norms is just not acceptable ā€“ leads to lack of innovation, experimentation and individuality. And is that how in business you anticipate the future trends? Is that how you imagine, dream new ideas? Perhaps that is why Smaller Companies and Startups do one hell of a lot more innovative thinking, ideation and trials than the bigger organisations. This pressure is significantly lower in these companies, plus one more aspect ā€“ these are generally ideators.

THE PRESSURE TO CONFORM

This is a general observation and increasing trend. There is a constant pressure, societally defined, of slots, and the attempt to slot people into pre-defined definitions. Both Left and Right, and even Center, have this tendency. This is a general societal habit, as well as a professional need. You have to conform, you have to slot yourself and your choices as per some predefined rules. Seperate issue that the majority of ideas that lead to genuine lasting change / inventions / discoveries have originated OUTSIDE the formal framework setup by our society or outside larger companies.

This is testimony to the simple reality that society and its "rules" are wrong. One has to be an individual. Experiment. Do as per your mind directions, independent of societal norms {but within boundaries of scriptures, laws, ethics, morality} - and be your own person, not a copy-cat version of some predefined vague idea. That is the goal of all Rightist and Leftist tendencies. And that is also why genuine new ideas ALWAYS originate outside the societal or organisational framework - a mute testimony to the failure, nay - abject failure - of our society, as well as of large companies.

ORGANISATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

From a company perspective, this needs much more careful thought, and is not to be rushed in blindly; the basis of organisations are strong processes. And too much flexibility & innovation in that is just plain stupid, there is no other word for it. Yet, despite this, careful thought needs to be put in to ensure systemic dynamism, flexibility and operational leeway in an environment that foster thinking, independence and innovative thought. This needs deep changes in the HR-L&D-OD-Strategy domain to be implemented, to create an atmosphere where innovation and experimentation is encouraged. More of that later, in another articleā€¦


CONCLUSION

Moral and Learning : Be an individual, not an automaton, not a robot. You are a human being. Make your own rules! And find ways to encourage this innovation, this individuality within the scope of organizational norms and rules. The benefits of the same will be tremendous, as the company will realise newer better ways to perform, to achieve objectives, as well as be a lot more flexible towards market changes and movements.


As I wrote in my earlier article on this - Why must we force people to conform to a certain type? Why cant we accept each individual as unique, a true wonder of God? Doesnā€™t being human give us intellect and the ability to choose for ourselves basis our own capabilities? Why be something we are not? Animals do not have this ability to choose, or the intellect and skills to create. If we depress individuality, arenā€™t we calling into question the very basis of our humanity? This is a question that all of you have to answer for yourselvesā€¦


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