Turn Negative into Positive

Another article from Tim Bryce, the Footsoldier for Freemasonry. He writes about negativity in a lodge (i.e. chapter) and how to address it.

Some common expressions heard in Lodges:

• "It can’t be done."
• "Its too much work; It will take too long."
• “Why should we waste our time?”
• “Can’t we just give them some money instead?”
• “It wouldn’t be prudent.”
• “We’ve never done that before.”
• “Let’s send it to committee until another time.
  (Translation: "Let’s bury it".)
• “We don’t have time to do it right.”
  (Translation: “We have plenty of time to do it wrong.”)

If you tell someone enough times that they are wrong for trying to do something, eventually they start to believe it, throw up their arms, and do nothing, particularly in a volunteer organization.

Does any of that sound familiar? It sure does to me.

He goes on to tell people to bring up solutions, not problems. When I go to my boss and say "This is an issue and here is what I would like to do about it" I will get a better reception that if I just whine about "Ain't it awful." It works the same way in the Chapter, or for that matter with the National Fraternity. [Note: I didn't say it would get done your way, just that it gets a better hearing.]

Update: Several of Mr. Bryce's columns have have application to Fraternities in general. I have added the list of his columns - "Freemasonry from the EDGE" to the "Not Sig Ep But Not Bad" area in the sidebar.

Freemason Information-Negative/Positive

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