Stay Humble

Creativity succeeds stability. Do you remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-actualization is the highest level of human endeavour. Thus expecting a new employee in an organisation, or a new player in the team, or a new student in the university to be creative from the very onset is ludicrously over-demanding. He needs time and resources to grasp the fundamentals.

In the formative phase of career, an employee may be rebuked but shouldn’t be punished, may be guided but not spoonfed, may be settled but not confined. He’ll soon learn the right way to do things. Trust him, atleast give him the chance. Give him chance to fail, room to fall and time to rise. Give him the tools and the authority to engineer improvements in the work design, and let the results be felt. Let his fresh ideas be injected into the ageing state of affairs. Squandering and stigmatising them is the surest route to extinction.

Don’t worry about the volatility of his adventures. Rest assured that the system of appraisal and feedback from seniors, peers and juniors is so arranged that over a course of time his strengths will find wings to fly and shortcomings be trimmed to size. If he is bold enough to stick on to his unique strengths despite opposition, he will create a new cult of workstyle in the industry. This world needs strong hands which can bear the thrust of resistance and still carry new lamps for old.

Also remember that we live in a world of incomplete appearances. The wise man doesn’t judge a structure by the height of its tower, but by the depth of its foundation. Thus we need to rise above the impropriety of prejudice towards any new member of our team. He might, after all, be much better than you. Stay humble.