ATTITUDES, NOT PLATITUDES
Barry Urquhart
Conference Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Marketing Strategist, Consumer Behaviour Analyst
It’s time.
Step up. Stand up. Speak up. Shut up.
Make a statement. Share your attitudes… robustly, proudly and persistently. We will all be better for it.
EXPRESS. EXPLAIN. ELABORATE. ENTHUSE. LIKE. SHARE.
Barry Urquhart
Marketing Focus
M: 041 983 5555
T: (08) 9525 3355
ATTITUDES, NOT PLATITUDES
Don’t hold back.
Too often expressions based on attitudes, beliefs and values are frowned upon, dismissed, deflected, suppressed or pushed back.
Exchanges of opinions, debates and convictions are seemingly becoming rarer. Conversations are tending to be bland, predictable and boring. What has happened to the adjective robust.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Rigorous interactions have long been the fountains of ideas, innovations and foundations for better and different understandings, perceptions, creativity and innovation.
A wave of “political correctness”, wokism and the cancelling of opposing or contentious views have promoted, reinforced and ingrained heightened sensitivity, timidity and a reluctance to be forthright, intellectually honest and driven by well-founded, considered convictions.
Right? Wrong? Who is justified to assign such subjective value judgements.
In business, politics and society the capacity and willingness to enunciate attitudes should be applauded, recognised, celebrated and, above all, sought.
It is the insights, overviews and reflections of others that are the pillars of growth, development, contemplation, innovation and progression.
MAKE A STATEMENT
Unapologetic forthright utterances of attitudes, perceptions, expressions and, yes, hypotheses should be encouraged and tolerated.
Differing points of view pervade all interactions, settings and discourses. No offense should be taken or intended. They are the very essence of dynamism.
When platforms and audiences are denied those whose attitudes, projections and contentions are inconsistent or not in accord with arbitrarily determined mandates a fundamental flaw is present.
Many university campuses need to review recent and current philosophies, policies and practices.
Withdrawing invitations and denying venues impinges upon the capacity and opportunities to learn, improve, develop and enhance.
Seek out the freedom of thought.
Some media channels – mass, micro and online – should be encouraged to pursue, accept and include points of views, perceptions and attitudes that vary or conflict with pre-determined narratives. It makes for more interesting news reports, enables people to contemplate and make their own conclusions and strikes a balance from typical column-like texts. Attitudes add to “hard news”.
GO FORTH, COME FIRST
Find those who have attitudes, contentions and beliefs, and are prepared to declare, share and where convinced, pare. We will all be better from the experiences.
The fear of losing clients, associates, prospects, friends and investors should be set to enable the free expression of attitudes, not platitudes.
In business meetings, during Board deliberations and with the proceedings of development workshops, platitudes should be left at the door.
Be prepared… to challenge, confront, possibly affront and even offend. It is for “them”, the recipients, to determine how they will respond.
Sleep well. You deserve it. (Great attitude.)
Barry Urquhart
Service Excellence Facilitator
Marketing Focus
M: 041 983 5555