Indecisive Boss: Stoicess’ Poem

August 7, 2024

Indecisive Boss: Stoicess’ Poem.

It’s your third meeting with the boss on the topic. The boss wants an idea that will be a home run – a “knock it out of the ballpark” were their exact words. However, each time you meet, the boss pooh-poohs your newest idea. Then the boss begins speaking in cryptic messaging. Clearly, the boss has no idea of what they want. However, their speaking in riddles is becoming exasperating.

You know that idea generation is the lifeblood of innovation in any organization. And in a highly competitive business landscape, companies that can consistently generate fresh ideas gain a significant advantage over their competitors. However, idea generation goes beyond simply coming up with random thoughts. It requires a systematic approach that takes into account the company’s goals, market trends, customer needs, and available resources. In turn, effective idea generation can lead to breakthrough innovations, improved efficiency, and increased profitability.

You also know that there are several challenges in idea generation. These challenges include lack of inspiration because you’re stuck in a routine or lack exposure to diverse perspectives, fear of failure particularly when the boss takes the approach of judging you, and ambiguity when the boss gives vague directions.

From training with the Stoicess, you know it’s time to bring out the big guns to get that home run. You’ll embrace the ambiguity because ambiguity leaves room for interpretation and opens up possibilities for unique and creative solutions as you think outside the box.

Second, you’ll employ divergent thinking. Divergent thinking involves free-flowing, non-judgmental brainstorming where quantity is valued over quality. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible, even if they seem far-fetched or unrelated initially.

Third, you’ll draw inspiration from diverse sources. You’ll seek inspiration from books, art, nature, and even conversations with people outside your field. By exposing yourself to diverse perspectives, you’ll fuel creativity and broaden your idea-generating capability.

Fourth, you’ll consider collaborative methods such as employing brainstorming sessions with groups, designing thinking workshops, and utilizing cross-functional collaboration with different departments in your company.

So, as you walk out of the boss’s office that third time, you realize it’s not the solution you need to focus on. Instead, it’s the method to reach that solution which will immediately become your primary objective. In this way, the boss’s riddles won’t hold you back. And as a part of the process, you’ll be bringing in other support from company peers which will offset the boss’s vagueness in the journey to find a company-supported solution.

Now using My S-T-O-I-C STORYTELLING method:

(S) My boss wants me to come up with ideas but doesn’t know what they really want; how should I handle?
(T) “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.” Cicero
“An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.” Book of James
(O) I will look beyond the boss and seek assistance to develop the best idea possible.
(I) I realized my success is not dependent on one person’s perspective.
(C) The character trait I improved was having grit in the face of adversity.

Thank you for sharing your mind with me.

For your continued Success,

Hear MY Secret:

When the boss’s directions are unclear, it’s time to collaborate with big guns to get things in high gear.

Now RELAX ……CONTROL YOUR MIND….

and ‘Be as you wish to seem’ …..

EMPOWERED!

Remember: It’s the Situation Keeping My Connection with Him.

I’m Lori Stith, The Stoicess

AND I believe in YOU.