The document discusses common sense and how to encourage its use in organizations. It defines common sense as something that is hard to define but know it when you see it. Some key benefits of common sense include improved productivity, problem solving, customer satisfaction, and morale. The document recommends developing common sense through experience and logic/shape puzzles. It outlines a three step process for figuring out common sense solutions: thinking of past similar situations, considering present options based on past experiences, and determining future implications. Finally, it advises leaders to expect, model, teach, encourage, acknowledge, and reinforce common sense in their employees.

1. Stamp Out
Stupid People Syndrome(tm)
in Your Organization:
Getting Your Employees to Use
Common Sense

2. So, what is Stupid People
Syndrome, anyway?

Duh!!

3. So, then, what is common sense?

Hard to define

Know it when you see it

Good ol' horse sense

4. What do you know about
common sense?

Varies in character, depending on
surroundings and education

Domain specific

People who have it tend to be practical,
creative and self-reliant

5. What are the top 7 benefits of
common sense?
(in other words, why should we care
about common sense?)

Improves productivity

Improves problem solving and decision
making skills

Improves customer service and customer
satisfaction

Improves common courtesy

6. What are the top 7 benefits of
common sense? (con't.)

Improves morale and increases self-esteem

Improves truth, values and simplicity of life

Improves seeing things as they are, and
doing things as they should be done

7. How do you get common sense?

Program or re-program your brain with
practice in logic puzzles and shape
manipulation puzzles

Develop through experience or exposure to
experience

8. How do you figure out a
“common-sensical” solution?
1. Pastthink

Think of a similar situation that you have
experienced or exposed to

Make sure your perception is based on
fact rather than emotion

Compare the situation with your memory
of past experience (often happens without
conscious thought)

9. How do you figure out a
“common-sensical” solution?
2. Presentthink

Think of options to use in this situation

Assimilate the present facts, consider
alternatives and compare with past
experiences

Decide which option is most viable

10. How do you figure out a
“common-sensical” solution?
3. Futurethink

Determine if present situation will deviate
from past experience when applying
chosen option

Determine implications

If desired outcome, GO FOR IT! (if not,
return to step 1.

11. How do you get your employees to
use common sense?

Expect it

Model it

Teach it

Encourage it

Acknowledge it

Reinforce it

12. Remember:
Common Sense is genius
dressed in working clothes.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

13. To learn more, please contact:
Douglas H. (Doug) Johnson
330.425.7406
dougj@comsense.org