Out of the Crisis.Org

[Louis Altazan]

Aristotle once said, “Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions. I believe this is as true today as it was 350 B.C.

Implied is, a person’s actions influence their thoughts. This flies in the face of the more commonly accepted theory that a person’s thoughts always dominate their actions. I think the distinction is one with a huge significance to managers. Current management theory follows current thought (i.e., actions are controlled by thoughts.) To this end, managers trying to alter behavior out of line with desired behavior have largely attempted to change the way people think. They have also largely been ineffective.

I feel history abounds with examples counter to current practice. Problem youths entering the military and being transformed. Their thought were influenced by their new behavior. The opposite can also happen. Lynch mobs, where normal intelligent people, caught up in their actions, have performed unspeakable acts. They had no such thoughts prior to the involvement in the mob. Good kids that get involved with gangs. Again, they may have had no thoughts of violence before beginning to act in a violent nature.

I think if we accept that behavior does affect thought, we can use this to help improve our businesses. Allowing employees to act responsibly, will help make them think responsibly, in my experience. Allowing them to succeed will allow them to think in successful terms. I also believe the way they dress and the conditions in which they work will ultimately affect their behavior.

I also believe a person’s behavior is influenced by the way society perceives them. This too works with the theory as our actions have a great deal to do with the way we are perceived. I very much dislike the stereotypical image mechanics have in our society. I feel it is wrong and not reflective of the group it tries to represent. If I would hope to change this, perhaps I will be more successful by changing my actions, rather than attempting to change the thoughts of others?

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Louis Altazan
Owner/Manager AGCO Automotive Corporation
Baton Rouge, LA