Comments

Indifference might be bad, but politics in business is worse. Politics take companies down daily. It all starts with HR, if you hire friends of friends then expect fiefdoms, nepotism and groupthink. What did you think would happen? You get companies with little fiefdoms that get along really well within themselves, but don't produce or when they do its mediocrity. The fiefdoms a constantly fighting over resources and power instead of working together for a common goal.

Posted by Jason at April 11, 2007 8:56 AM

"After the first blush of sin comes its indifference." - Henry David Thoreau

The indifference of others (perhaps the masses) is an opportunity for leaders to evangelize. After all, if the entire congregation (ie. company, team, group, division) were ablaze with fervor - then what would leaders do? Think of how the sermons would change. My, Tom, without indifference your career - as we now know it - would be over!

Not to fear. Indifference is alive and well. And your career is quite safe.

Posted by Leonard Klaatu at April 11, 2007 9:19 AM

"The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato.

Posted by Mark JF at April 11, 2007 1:08 PM

Mark JF and Tom P

Thanks for your words earlier in the Blog on this subject appreciate the time and thinking, I have spent the day fighting customer indifference to IT!

Try this one for size...

I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.

Anatole France

or

"The biggest sin is sitting on your ass."

Kenndy, Florynce R.

Have a lovely day, I am off to sleep.

patrick

Posted by patrick at April 11, 2007 4:26 PM

How do you distinguish between "indifferent people" and "people who are choosing their battles"? As a one-time social activist, I discovered that many people whom I thought were indifferent to my favorite issue were fully engaged in fighting for their favorite issue.

Posted by Mike L at April 11, 2007 6:22 PM

Mike - it's perfectly legitimate to choose your battles else you risk spreading yourself too thin. However, I think there's a difference in the expectation you can have of employees in paid work (which in my view imposes an obligation on those receiving the company's cash!) and how people react to social causes. I guess the answer to the question, "How do you distinguish..." would be: when you talk about your issue, does the other person ask you questions and offer you ideas, encouragement, enthusiasm and moral support? If so, then even if they don't want to join in, they don't strike me as indifferent.

Posted by Mark JF at April 12, 2007 3:19 AM

Thank you Tom. Thank you Levonn. I begin a multi-state lecture series on Monday that deals specifically with the role of industry indifference on the incidence of real estate fraud. I now have a new "battle cry" and another slide to prepare. In the past, the "keep your head down" mentality was often described as "going along to get along." To add powerful words like "insidious" and "disease" to a business dialogue adds a sense of urgency to a social issue that badly needs it.

Posted by Ed Rybczynski at April 12, 2007 9:07 AM

I think a lot of it boils down to be explicit about your intent. If you are trying to avoid spreading yourself too thin (choosing your battles) why not say so ?

Posted by PaulH at April 12, 2007 11:38 AM

Yesterday at the book store I picked up "Deep Survival" by Laurence Gonzales. It is a book on the traits of survivors of war, plane accidents and mountain climbing accidents among others. For those faced with an impossible work situation and are considering the option of "indifference"I would suggest reading this book. Traits of survivors:
1) perceive your situation clearly
2) stay calm
3) laugh at yourself, even in the face of death.
4) use anger rather than succumb to it.
5) be decisive
6) don't give up.
The numbers are mine not Gonzales' but a great read and perhaps those in impossible situations could find some value.

Posted by Greg at April 13, 2007 3:58 PM

My own favourite in times of gloom is Winston Churchill's: "success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm". One of the keys to winning in my view is realising that YOU can grind THEM down - it's not always the other way round.

Posted by Rob at April 19, 2007 1:14 AM

How appropriate that I would run across this topic today of all days, and thank you all for your comments and quotes. Today I was forced to remove an account from a co-worker because of ambivalence/indifference. She's bright, articulate and could easily handle the assignment if only she wanted to, but she doesn't. Now I feel robbed, cheated and used by the experience. How emotional it was to come to grips with the situation, and now I, and others, need to pick up the pieces of this shattered effort and work like hell to meet our potential customer's expectation, all because indifference. Real dollars are at stake!!! Yikes! Sinful is the only comment that comes to mind.

Posted by Doug at May 2, 2007 6:45 PM