Taken for “Granite”
“Never take anything for granted!”
—Benjamin Disraeli
Victorian Era British Prime Minister
1804 — 1881
Granite
Definition: Igneous (volcanic) rock with a crystalline structure. From the Latin Granum, in reference to the coarse-grained structure. When cut, sculpted, or finished, the surface is long lasting and withstands decades, even centuries of weathering and punishment.
Working in a place where the culture is strong, we often mistake strength for inflexibility, or worse for “Granite,” i.e., impervious to the centuries. As a result, we may think that our culture is simply a given, and neglect to take the time to lavish the hours, days, months, and years each newbie requires to get the feel of the place, to discover and absorb the vibe, to find his way into the “private club” that the old timers enjoy. It’s easy to get fooled by the stone hallways, the elevators, the art, and the reputation, but it’s temporary—this culture is fragile!
If we “take it for granite,” it’s easy for us to miss the fact that our individual daily contributions either contribute to the whole culture or wear it down.
It’s that simple: You’re either building it up or tearing it down. Each day, each relationship is either a net plus or a net minus.
Do you get the sense that there are more people tearing down, or wearing down the culture these days? Like it or not, the burden rests on those who can tell the difference.
Then the job becomes not just making sure that tasks get completed, clients get handled and bills get paid. It’s also about loving the team and the place, about making sure that each day someone lights up and gets it (!) before you move on. You’re a manager! Yes, your job is turning out the lights in the building, but also turning them on in the people! It’s not stone: this company, these people, these relationships.
It’s not enough that the company is “well situated.” The economics can change overnight. There has to be glue — and that comes in the form not of stone, but of affection. They have to like coming to work. They have to like each other. They have to like and be liked by the clients. If they like it, they become more aware, and start noticing what needs to be done. They start wanting to contribute, and they start building every day.
Now this isn’t a hymn to feel-good management. But a rational manager realizes that good feeling is a sign of doing great work in a safe and supportive atmosphere while being appreciated and acknowledged… They aren’t granite, nor are they granted…
Don’t “take it for granite,” and together you can keep building the culture!
Applications
1. Individually
That boat mooring you’ve been using for years, secure in the knowledge it’s anchored in cement… Have you checked the chain lately? How about the dimmable light switches at home? Do they need to be changed out for new ones? Now about those remote friends you’ve been “appreciating at a distance” for years. Could some of them benefit from a lunch or a phone call or a visit?
2. At Home
Even granite needs a re-finish now and then. How about a date night? What about a “kid appreciation” day? Ask yourself, “What have I built here? What can I build going forward? How shall I go about it?” This family is fluid, and the time is passing, so what you casually do — is what will casually cure into stone over time…
3. At Work
What if this is what you get in life? This job? This place? These people? This is where you’ll make your mark. Or not. Don’t view it as un-shapeable, or beyond reach — or Granite. It is a fluid, liquid mixture that will yield to your intentions. You can leave it better than you found it and build something that others can continue to carry forward. Insist on it!
And never take anything for “Granite!”
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