Or, at the beginning there were the feet.
We humans are very proud – may be too proud – of our head, but what would we be without our feet, and not controlling them?
Could we drive a car, or pilot an aircraft or simply moving from here to there; or taking a shower? The answer to these apparently trivial questions is NO.
When we play tennis, we go skiing or swimming or whatever we do, our feet are the moving bases on which we naturally move – and stand.
It is very regrettable that feet is the part of our body that we least care for. It is probably because they are closest to the ground that – we, more and more technological people – value a filthy thing.
I do not remember the details – I apologize for my head’s failure. A mythological story tells us that a giant was beaten by a normal man because the latter had the giant not touching ground with his feet.
I remember, however, that Homer’s Great Achilles was named “fast foot”.
What can we learn from this story?
We have many expressions relating the contacts of our body with ground; walking on firm ground is probably one of the most simple.
We tend to ignore – or even despise – our feet. In Italy there is a saying – that is, done by feet – to mean that a thing is done very badly.
But – since Bacchus – wine was made by squeezing grapes by means of feet – and we keep praising wine very much.
In industry and business, one man, two feet. When feet do not function properly the ailment rises up to the head, reducing – when not stopping – its primary functions.
Our western history tells us that the north american Indians were great walkers and that they cared very much for their feet and shoes. It is not casual that one of their tribes was / is named “Moccasins”.
What are the connections between Feet and Risk?
The basic lesson to be learned is that we must not ignore or despise any – so called – lower part of any organization, and praise its highest part, instead.
Let’s just think of a very big manager wearing brand new shoes that hurt his feet. Would he feel comfortable? What efforts will he make to keep smiling and looking courteous to his employees?
We go to gyms for postural exercises – and spend quite a bit ofmoney – because of our backache, but we do not care how we use our feet.
Just let us look at how our feet are positioned when we walk, stand, or sit. Let’s just look at our shoes’ soles, they wear on the outer part, the inner part is almost new. This means that from our feet on our skeleton and muscles have an outward tilt.
Be it so or the opposite, we have to care more for what makes – us or any organization under our control – properly standing and moving.
We cannot improve anything unless we properly know and understand “what we are and how we move”.
“Feet” control equals Balance: free-floating apex styled organizations – that is not standing or moving on sound “feet” bases – keep demonstrating they miserably fail their targets, unless heavily financed.
It is a severe risk both for the apex and for its employees, but those at the top seem not to care.
Our very early predecessors (curious word: those who deceased before us), the apes, were and are quadrumanous. They used and use hands and feet equally well, according to Biology.
We do not.
We buy very expensive shoes but when it comes to walk bare footed we are at a loss. We lose our innate balance.
Ladies use five or more inches high heel shoes just to be trendy. No wonder their back starts aching at a very early age.
Not to mention the habit of having very long finger nails, that is simply unpractical and anti-hygienic.
If we reflect on “visual thinking”, that’s closely connected to the more known visual management and visual planning, we cannot deny visual thinking as being very close – if not the same – to “feet-based thinking”.
The Romans – and Others before them – built their empire on roads, that is, the most efficient way to move – by feet, horse or cart. And roads – on ground, sea or air – still are the most powerful means to business and communication.
Despite Internet’s strivings.
We – hi-tech people – have to reflect much more on the bases we have been born from. Our feet are not made of bytes or whatever any Silicon Valley has produced and will produce. At the end of the day, it’s all about our feet.