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23.02.2010 Change, CharacterView Comments

Tower Block Of Uncommons

If you can’t see the video above, click here.

This incredible series, Tower Block of Commons, gave me great insight again into perception. It doesn’t matter what the reality is. If the everyday person has a perception that our government spend all day arguing in a room and having two homes, then it doesn’t matter what really goes on.

Because the perception is broken, The House of Commons and the common man have nothing in common.

You want to know why it doesn’t matter? Because people don’t care about your reasons. Unless you care about theirs.

When I watch that video above (and the many other instances over the series), I’m looking at a members of parliament who are making the following fundamental flaw: They are seeking to be understood, rather than seeking to understand.

Could the woman in the video above see the MPs point of view? Sure they could, if the MP would give a little and understand their situation first. Because that’s all the woman wanted: to be understood.

Seek commonality. Put people first. Be impressed, not impressive. Understand, rather than trying to be understood. Help rather than trying to be helped.

Your Leading Thoughts Please

  • In 3 steps, how can we find commonality?


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  • Hi Scott - I agree on a couple of levels. First it was an excellent series, one of the better things I have seen on TV recently. Second, the issue of understanding.

    For me the best example of this was on the Orchard Park Estate in Hull where Austin Mitchell was placed. I can't remember which episode it was, but he visited the youth club (which eventually was closed) and initially was unimpressed that there seemed to be no purpose to it. There were no organised activities, no training, no supervised 'help', only pool tables and a place to socialise. What he came to realise, was that he was setting the bar way too high and merely having 'somewhere to go' was what the young residents wanted. They explained that there was nothing to do on the estate so without the club they would be on the streets...and that leads to gang life, drugs, violence etc. They didn't need help directing their lives (yet) they simply needed somewhere to go that would take them out of the 'firing line'.
  • Yeah that scene was awesome. You nail it - he needed to understand where they were at!
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