TEDTalk Margaret Heffernan
TEDTalk: Margaret Heffernan
Most people instinctively avoid confrontation because they are afraid of conflict, Margaret Heffernan says disagreement is central to progress. This model of collaboration involves conflict and debate that phenomenally leads to a solution of the problem discussed. For example, during the TEDTalk, Heffernan tells us the story of Joe, who worked at a medical device company. He was too afraid to bring up the issue of errors with their new device. When he finally decided to voice his concern, he noticed that other workers felt the same way he did. He was responsible for everyone at the company working together towards a solution for the errors. Joe’s actions clearly shows that being unafraid to raise conflict can prove to be a creative and resourceful way to fix a problem. In addition, Frank Serpico is most famous for exposing police corruption in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Serpico was not afraid of the potential risks involved with trying to expose corruption in his department (possible job loss and danger) instead, he focused on what he believed was the right thing to do. He was responsible for helping establish a standard within the New York Police Department and renew their relationships with other departments. These two men both put their careers at risk for a cause they strongly believed in, and as a result, created a change that benefitted not only themselves, but many others.
Most people instinctively avoid confrontation because they are afraid of conflict, Margaret Heffernan says disagreement is central to progress. This model of collaboration involves conflict and debate that phenomenally leads to a solution of the problem discussed. For example, during the TEDTalk, Heffernan tells us the story of Joe, who worked at a medical device company. He was too afraid to bring up the issue of errors with their new device. When he finally decided to voice his concern, he noticed that other workers felt the same way he did. He was responsible for everyone at the company working together towards a solution for the errors. Joe’s actions clearly shows that being unafraid to raise conflict can prove to be a creative and resourceful way to fix a problem. In addition, Frank Serpico is most famous for exposing police corruption in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Serpico was not afraid of the potential risks involved with trying to expose corruption in his department (possible job loss and danger) instead, he focused on what he believed was the right thing to do. He was responsible for helping establish a standard within the New York Police Department and renew their relationships with other departments. These two men both put their careers at risk for a cause they strongly believed in, and as a result, created a change that benefitted not only themselves, but many others.