What's on Your Allowed List?
Posted on Fri, May 13, 2011
By Erin
In Seth Godin’s new book, “Poke the Box,” he discusses how most organizations give employees a long list of all the things they’re not allowed to do. Not-allowed lists exist in relationships, in jobs and in public places. For example, the Starbucks by my apartment does not allow dogs to be tied-up on its outdoor furniture. We are constantly reminded of the things that we are not-allowed to do which leads us to feel restrictions and limitations in our daily lives.
Godin argues that the “allowed list” is harder to remember and to write down, but equally important. He believes that we tend to fear how much freedom we actually have, and how much we’re expected to do with that freedom.
So, what about the things that ARE allowed at work? The Metis team recently compiled a list of the “allowable” things that help us drive creativity, work output and overall success for our clients and our company.
Below are a few things that we're allowed to do:
- Spend hours reading
- Demand excellence
- Agree to disagree
- Ask why
- Request a question-free or uninterrupted time zone
- Do a favor and ask for one in return
- Have a bad day
- Work with people who make a ruckus out of great ideas
- Say no
- Juggle multiple tasks while playing flip cup
- Share highs and lows (no matter how low they truly are)
- Chase office pets
- Listen to music to reach the creative zone
- Passionately believe in aliens
- Call upon your co-workers’ superpowers
- Brainstorm freely with your team
- Develop a deep love for historical, Boston Irish bars
- Work from home
- Get it wrong from time to time
- Offer constructive criticism
What’s on your “allowable” list?