Comments on: Leaving Your Octagonal Outhouse

By: LaylasunZahell

LaylasunZahell — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:21:07 +0000

Whether or not we admit it, we make judgments of people based on the appearances of their homes and our blind date uncensored guests do the very same thing when they enter our homes.

By: LaylasunZahell

LaylasunZahell — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:21:07 +0000

Whether or not we admit it, we make judgments of people based on the appearances of their homes and our blind date uncensored guests do the very same thing when they enter our homes.

By: Mary Abraham

Mary Abraham — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:40:54 +0000

Karen –

You’re right that things aren’t always either/or. Rather, sometimes compromises are necessary. However, the important thing is to keep asking the questions so that we don’t sink into blind complacency.

- Mary

By: Karen Huffman

Karen Huffman — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:53:39 +0000

Sometimes it’s also a give and take. I am hoping to launch an internal wiki for my organization. Just recently I was told not to “rock the boat” by challenging an existing enterprise solution that is riddled with problems or else my wiki business plan/implementation might not get passed.

As I LOVE Thomas Jefferson, I just wanted to share a little trivia about his love of architecture and, in particular, the octagonal shape. He designed and built a second home in the south western part of Virginia called Poplar Forest that is octagonal shaped. As he always had visitors at Monticello, he would often retreat to Popular Forest with, I believe, his daughters. Very interesting place to visit if you get a chance.

By: Mary Abraham

Mary Abraham — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:38:35 +0000

Too true, Daniel! It will be interesting to see how long companies cling to their e-mail octagonal outhouses. What’s so hard is that unlike the 18th creators of the octagonal outhouse, we do have better options. We just choose not to adopt them.

- Mary

By: Mary Abraham

Mary Abraham — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:32:41 +0000

Wendy –

You’re absolutely right about how complicated and challenging this is. However, as long as we continue to ask if we’re looking at an octagonal outhouse we can start the needed conversation.

- Mary

By: Daniel J. Pritchett

Daniel J. Pritchett — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:07:48 +0000

At the risk of sounding like a broken record I couldn’t help but think EMAIL! EMAIL EMAIL! when I read this passage:

“It’s astonishing how long we can tolerate substandard systems, seemingly unconscious of the toll they take on our productivity and morale.”

By: Wendy Reynolds

Wendy Reynolds — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:52:04 +0000

It’s a delicate dance, isn’t it, challenging the status quo to see if it’s worth preserving and recognising when an idea, process or system has reached its stale date. Changing for change’s sake can be as disruptive and morale-reducing as letting “that’s how we do things” become the only way to proceed.