The Importance of belligerence: A lesson on progress
Updated: Feb 17, 2020
This is a short article to the polite people out there hiding behind political correctness or the meek majority.
This really is an externalisation of a mindset I adopt to help me get over my politeness. Sometimes it's vitally important to speak your mind. To prevent self-censoring too much, I pursue an 'areshole mindset'.
The core tenet is the importance of cutting through the bullshit. A certain amount of belligerence is required to see the progress required in one's life and pursuits. I think Churchill embodied this belligerence well. One could call him a 'progressive arsehole' as he got shit done in this country's time of need and mainly because he was an unreasonable patriot who knew how to articulate himself.
I'm English, proper English to the point that sometimes I implode rather then risk being impolite. This is a flaw and something I've learnt overtime. It's definitely a learned behaviour, I used to be a ruthless shoot from the hip type but found very quickly that a poorly articulated rant is worse then biting your tongue.
I'd like to think that I've now found a balance and could claim to be a progressive arsehole too.
The call to action here is: put your head above the parapet, own your opinion, articulate it and be prepared to defend it because at the end of the day your opinion is the sum of your experiences. There is value in divergent thoughts and analysis. Think about it, and then articulate it...in business meetings, to your parents, to the stranger on the tube, on a date, etc.
Owning your own opinion is important, it's even more important in stressful situations, the kind of situations leaders need to get good at operating within. This is where a finely tuned arsehole trait is vital. This trait needs to be balanced with humility. Y onour opinion may be valid based on the facts you have but, as new information appears, be willing to review your position.
Owning your own opinion is important, it's even more important in stressful situations, the kind of situations leaders need to get good at operating within. This is where a finely tuned arsehole trait is vital. This trait needs to be balanced with humility. Your opinion may be valid based on the facts you have but, as new information appears, be willing to review your position.
This trait needs to be balanced with humility, your opinion may be valid based on the facts you have but, as new information appears, be willing to review your position.
The best people in the world at utilising this arsehole trait are military instructors as they aren't there to be your friend they are there to get you through a set task. In the military, most of these tasks involve some kind of discomfort so a lack of compassion and generally owning your inner arsehole is important.
Now it's important to understand exactly what kind of arsehole I'm talking about. I'm talking about a person using an arsehole mindset to own unpopular communication, stepping away from the meek majority and taking a position .
I'm not talking about someone impressing themselves upon you in a rude manner with no value or progress behind it, your boss can be a positive or negative arsehole for instance.
---Don't do this👇👇---
Urban Dictionary meaning of the kind of arsehole you SHOULDN'T promote:
Arsehole: Someone who acts like they own the place and that the whole world revolves around them. They look after number one, and everyone else is low on the priority list.
If you know the arsehole well, often even just their presence can make you feel small and insignificant, and generally they treat you like something they stepped on.
'He just strolled in, ignored the shop assistant, took what he wanted, threw the money on the counter and left. What an arsehole.'
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Imagine the progress we would all make if we employed our inner areshole and actually had that uncomfortable conversation or spoke up in that meeting when everyone else was in agreement.
So rock the f*cking boat and own it.
Before you start gobbing off like Vicky Pollard the core aspects here are 2 fold:
Open your mouth and rock the boat when you have thought internally about what you are about to say, is this moment of rebellion worth the backlash and is it productive?
If you are about to create an issue, you better have a suggested answer for that issue. (The classic quote "I don't want problems, I want solutions..." is very apt here).
I want to end on a quote ;
(Note : This applies equally to women and non-binary people as it does 'man')
If you've been helped by this...you're welcome. Now go be an arsehole...but a progressive and articulate arsehole who knows how to remove their ego from the argument.
Regards,
Dave