bring back the fools license

By Joe Slatter

Fools have gotten a bad rap in modern times. Being a Fool or a Jester was once a relatively well-respected occupation and these individuals were often quite talented. A licensed Fool was forgiven in advance for minor insults, verbal slights and inappropriate comments. The result? A valuable member of court; someone who could be counted on to speak their mind and provide perspective that ran against conventional thinking of the moment.

What would happen if (in our own minds) we gave that license to our co-workers, family, friends and neighbors? What if we tried to look past contrariness, poorly worded feedback, misused words, sarcastic comments and instead, listened for unexpected but potentially valuable feedback?

Pushing pause and taking time to reflect before reacting to other’s (contrary) insights, especially in a team setting, might lead to some surprising opportunities for growth and innovation.

Maybe, it's time for a renaissance. What do you think?