NOT NECESSARILY

"The philosophy of one century is the common sense of the next."

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American politician

Not unless the root of the philosophy actually is common sense.

And it's the same with your ideas.

Just because you have them doesn't mean everyone will immediately or ultimately think they're good.

They actually have to be good.

But We All Think So

"If fifty million people say a foolish thing it is still a foolish thing."

Bertrand Russell

20th century British  logician/philosopher

Numbers don't necessarily prove intelligence, not in what your management thinks nor what your customers think.

The Power Of We

"Don't surround yourself with yourself."

"I've Seen All Good People"

Yes

Late 1960's British rock group

Great business advice on every level imaginable.

Listening primarily, or worse, exclusively to yourself, will only serve to reinforce what you believe, and no matter how good you are, you are probably wrong as much as the rest of us.

"We" will invariably find the better way, sooner and more often than "I" ever will.

The Value of Management/Employee Agreement

"Better a friendly refusal than unwilling consent."

Spanish proverb

Management can order employees to do most anything, expecting and getting compliance, at least in the short term.

And employees must often do things they would rather not do.

But does anyone doubt how better the outcome when both are in agreement concerning what will be done?

Now, how to make that happen more often?

Consensus Management: A Cone of Silence

"A consensus means that everyone will say collectively what no one believes individually."

Abba Egan
20th century Jewish diplomat

Some of the best and worst management is consensus based. Best because regardless of what individuals say privately, publicly they are of one voice.

The trouble comes in the way consensus is reached and to over simplify, there are two possibilities; by individual choice and forced.

To the extent Toyota's troubles are due to a consensus of management silence about what many knew to be real problems, which would you guess got them to that point?