Recently, while having a discussion with a colleague, one of the topics touched on was about the way we learn how to swim. Using the way of learning how to swim as a metaphor on how we survive in a real world, the different approaches will often result in different outcome on every single individual’s survival skill.
The easy way of learning how to swim is to learn from the shallow end of the pool where the swimmer will always be able to touch the floor of the pool. This way, it allows the swimmer to stand and walk when he can’t cope with the swim. On the other hand, the hard way of learning is to learn from the deep end of the pool where the swimmer either swim or drown.
The resulting outcome
With the easy way, swimmers do not have to try as hard, as they can give up easily by taking a rest by standing on the pool. Their determination will not be as strong and they might find it hard to survive when met with the slightest challenge in life. This learning process will also take longer usually. With the hard way, a swimmer will either survive or drown. The swimmer will be struggling throughout the learning process, and probably learning to swim within a shorter time. Any swimmer that survives this learning process will usually be able to take up similar challenge easily in life and have a stronger determination.
Which is a better way and more significant to an organization?
From the above, it seems pretty obvious that the hard way of learning to swim is the best way. But how does this really relate into the real world and within an organization? How often does an organization required the people within the organization to only possess the basic survival skill? Yes, survival skill is probably the basic pre-requisite; however this will most likely put an organization also on the survival line too if all their human resources consist of people with surviving skill.
The ability to excel rather than just the skill to survive should be more significant to an organization that wants to excel. Anyone who joins the working life should have acquired the survival skill in the early years (during the school day). Organization with people that excel will be the companies that make the leap. People with the skill to survive should be easily available, however people that excel will always be in demand. All the people that excel should have been thru the surviving stage in life. So how did these people progress?
How to bring the best out of everyone
Will a swimmer be able to excel by his/her own without any coach or guidance and how does a person move from the ability to swim to excelling it? All professional swimmers have coach with proper training method, process. The coach will be there to coach and provide the necessary guidance for the swimmer, highlighting to the swimmer if his/her technique is incorrect or analyzing on how to help the swimmer to excel in the swim. People that excel also have a passion with what they do. Since finding people that excel is hard, why don’t you train people to excel?
The easy way of learning how to swim is to learn from the shallow end of the pool where the swimmer will always be able to touch the floor of the pool. This way, it allows the swimmer to stand and walk when he can’t cope with the swim. On the other hand, the hard way of learning is to learn from the deep end of the pool where the swimmer either swim or drown.
The resulting outcome
With the easy way, swimmers do not have to try as hard, as they can give up easily by taking a rest by standing on the pool. Their determination will not be as strong and they might find it hard to survive when met with the slightest challenge in life. This learning process will also take longer usually. With the hard way, a swimmer will either survive or drown. The swimmer will be struggling throughout the learning process, and probably learning to swim within a shorter time. Any swimmer that survives this learning process will usually be able to take up similar challenge easily in life and have a stronger determination.
Which is a better way and more significant to an organization?
From the above, it seems pretty obvious that the hard way of learning to swim is the best way. But how does this really relate into the real world and within an organization? How often does an organization required the people within the organization to only possess the basic survival skill? Yes, survival skill is probably the basic pre-requisite; however this will most likely put an organization also on the survival line too if all their human resources consist of people with surviving skill.
The ability to excel rather than just the skill to survive should be more significant to an organization that wants to excel. Anyone who joins the working life should have acquired the survival skill in the early years (during the school day). Organization with people that excel will be the companies that make the leap. People with the skill to survive should be easily available, however people that excel will always be in demand. All the people that excel should have been thru the surviving stage in life. So how did these people progress?
How to bring the best out of everyone
Will a swimmer be able to excel by his/her own without any coach or guidance and how does a person move from the ability to swim to excelling it? All professional swimmers have coach with proper training method, process. The coach will be there to coach and provide the necessary guidance for the swimmer, highlighting to the swimmer if his/her technique is incorrect or analyzing on how to help the swimmer to excel in the swim. People that excel also have a passion with what they do. Since finding people that excel is hard, why don’t you train people to excel?
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