I have always hated the word mandatory. When someone declares an action mandatory, they are essentially declaring that they don\u2019t trust the people around them to be willingly to participate. \u201cMandatory\u201d is a negative word. \u201cMandatory\u201d is disrespectful to the participants. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever met a single person in my community who was thrilled to be treated as a child with their freedom of choice disregarded.<\/p>\n
I do understand the need for people to work together to make something happen, however, I think that if someone wants me to participate in an action with them, it would be better if they took the time needed to explain their position and how they discerned that our acting together could benefit both of us. The benefit does need to be mutual \u2013 not necessarily equal \u2013 simply mutual. Also, that the benefit should not include \u201cyou get to keep your job\u201d.<\/p>\n
Explaining one\u2019s position to a non-participating audience is not a discussion of ideas. \u00a0That\u2019s one person basically talking to themselves \u2013 not wanting any interaction and not wanting any dissention. That\u2019s a person who needs to use the word \u201cmandatory\u201d to get their way. That\u2019s also a person who has come to believe that their views are superior to the views of others. There are many right paths to a solution and no one path suits all people. The world talks about inclusion and it\u2019s important to remember that inclusion must extend itself in all directions \u2013 the directions we agree with and the direction we don\u2019t agree with. The person demanding the participation needs to understand that there will always be a percentage of the group who will not agree with their position. This doesn\u2019t make them the opposition or enemies; they are simply expressing a different set of priorities. If an action needs a certain percentage of participants to be successful, perhaps taking the time to develop that participation would lead to a happier outcome. Demanding 100% participation is not an inclusive policy that recognizes an individual\u2019s right to choose.<\/p>\n
When people bemoan the existence of mindless corporations ruling our society, the first thing I think of is that these corporations all share some common elements \u2013 and one of those is mandatory participation. Imagine what the world could be like if all organizations took the time to nurture intelligent participation – that leads to shared values and goals. It would be pretty awesome. Everyone wants to be valued. Everyone wants to know that their opinion matters. We just need to take the time and the mental attitude to make that happen.<\/p>\n
For the record, I do go to mandatory events \u2013 but only to those that I share the ideals and values of the participants. I go because I believe in what we are doing, I go because I have the time and I go because I am curious. I do not go to mandatory events that I feel are frivolous or quite frankly \u2013 a waste of my time. I can\u2019t begin to count how many mandatory staff meetings or mandatory company classes I\u2019ve missed over the years. I was never fired for missing these events – although to tell the truth \u2013 for a few jobs \u2013 that was my intention\u2026.but that\u2019s another story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have always hated the word mandatory. When someone declares an action mandatory, they are essentially declaring that they don’t trust the people around them to be willingly to participate. “Mandatory” is a negative word. “Mandatory” is disrespectful to the … Continue reading