ALCStudies Journal

Welcome to the New Year, a time of resolution and retrospective. We are all trying to create better versions of ourselves. As we see from the news, there’s lots of room for us as individuals and as a species to improve. But sometimes the impulse toward self-improvement is overrated — especially when urged by others who know us little and appreciate us less.

A colleague and I went out for drinks. We talked about work. Looking back on his career at the same organization, he told me, “I’ve been called ‘subversive’, ‘too philosophical’ and most recently told that I’m a ‘talker'”.  He took this advice to heart, and it’s obvious it troubles him. (I suggested he tweet everything or send smoke signals.) He has good working relationships, completed many tasks and projects successfully in challenging circumstances and receives commendations from people he’s worked with over twenty years. It seems appropriate to ask:

• When does ‘subversive’ = thinking critically?
• When does ‘philosophical’ = thoughtful?
• When does ‘talker’=communication skills?

Aren’t these the sorts of aptitudes companies say they need? Perhaps he’s been doing something right all along.– DA