Morris Massey Video Reviews: "FLASHPOINT: When Values Collide!" (1995—70 minutes) & "Just GET it!" (1994—105 minutes) available from Enterprise Media, Inc., Phone: 800-423-6021, web page: www.enterprisemedia.com.

My original reviews of these two videos are published below and I stand by them in terms of their style basic content, and his brilliant theory of “values analysis.” They are still available, but may unfortunately come across as quite dated—“Just GET it!” is from 1994 and “FLASHPOI NT!” is from 1995. If this has any interest to you at all, please check out this update.

However, he has done a recent crucial update that supercedes these by including information on Generations “X,” “Y,” and “Z.” It was released last year as a 67-minute program called “What you are is where you were when…AGAIN!”, of which I have seen some snippets (which you can view on www.enterprisemedia.com). Trust me…Massey is still Massey as described below! His basic premise of “values analysis” is still very sound…and still much-needed. Massey’s material has been seminal in my personal growth and effectiveness as a consultant, and I feel that he is worth serious consideration as you deal with organizational turmoil. To me, THIS is diversity training…as well as needed information for ANY organizational change agent.

Original review (revised):
Stuck in your quality improvement efforts? Are you discovering that, when humans are involved, logic is not always persuasive or that "change would be easy if it weren't for all the people?" Are you ready for truthful, honest dialogue regarding the cultural (both work and personal) issues of quality? If so, I highly suggest that you at least preview these exciting (and to some, they will be (mildly) upsetting) videos.

Massey’s videos are designed to be a catalyst (not an answer!) to initiate dialogue about hidden taboos that are torpedoing organizational change and personal responsibility. It could be used as an ice breaker for emotional, organizational log jams, or an introduction for programs in diversity, leadership, teamwork, quality, communication. It looks at how our home-grown prejudices set us up for conflict and how we can personally de-escalate the value wars.

Its premise is: “The truth is the truth is the truth…and if you can't talk about it, you can't fix it."

You will be challenged to consciously think about what is normally unconsciously assumed. Issues discussed, myths brought to light, and biases and prejudices surrounding sex, ethnicity, and age are handled with humor, directness and honesty in an irreverent dissection of "Diversity" and Values.

It helps one own up to one's own biases and to accept that others have valid biases too. We are all "victims" of our sex, ethnicity, and age (S-E-A of values). "Facts" have two dimensions -- "hard data" and "soft data." The "hard" are observable, measurable, and verified. The "soft" represent a personal interpretation through one's unique S-E-A of values. To quote Massey:

Now there are even greater divisions disrupting our personal, work and societal relationships. Issues of race, rights, discrimination, sexual harassment and preferences, traditional values, diversity expectations, antisocial behavior and hostile positionality all haunt us daily…I've worked to bring current values clashes into clearer focus…[These videos are] meant to hold up a mirror so we can see ourselves better, and also observe those who punch our value hot buttons more objectively.

For years, we've played "let's pretend" we're all "one big, happy family." It was a lie. And now, we're in a whole new game, with new rules, and lots of new players…Millions are armed, angry, and riding high on their positional horses. It has never been easier to offend-insult-or violate someone else's "rights."…The only way to deal with the truth about all this is to speak it…Most relationships suffer from what we deny or avoid. If we can't talk about it, we can't fix it.

He sweeps through the historical context that created our differing values -- why and how we're different and the implications for living and working together. Three "clusters" (which he names Dependables, Pushies, and Standbys) are currently coexisting—and having problems communicating. Each was shaped by totally different events, resulting in three different "views" of the world regarding communications, motivations, humor, style, interests, etc., which Massey compares across these groups in terms of organizational conflicts and issues. He concludes that trends, countercultures, and waves of movements have short-circuited all the old S-E-A. rules. Past cultural chickens are coming home to roost and dealing with the fallout that most systems of the past were indeed unfair, unequal, and unjust.

Massey then focuses on using value analysis to understand others and the world and examines the seven core values necessary to create RESULTS -- Respect, Empathy, Scanning, Unity, Love, Truth/Trust, Self-awareness. Once again, to quote Morris:

[The issues are to] stop judging and start accepting…to explain, not to blame…Instead of assuming what [someone] should know…how can you change to get them to change? Be honest, do you want to be effective or just right?

Massey's theory is that a Significant Emotional Event (S.E.E.) is a necessary element for changing values/behaviors. He reviews S.E.E.s for each "generation," and, through his delivery and style, literally creates an S.E.E. for the viewer! People have told me that, whether they agree with Massey or not, they are most definitely affected and challenged (one listener even said that it "haunted" her at work the rest of the day). Subsequent class dialogue is extremely honest and respectful.

So, do we want to stay unconscious or wake up? There is a need to develop common core values like truth, trust, respect, and unity through accepting individual responsibility for our own values and reaching out to one another on a daily basis. Massey says to "Get off our ass…umptions!" and give honest feedback that is direct, objective, non-defensive, non-hysterical, and non-dumping -- of both the hard and soft data.

This video has a tendency to push people out of their comfort zones -- which is its point! "We're all normal, just different," which will no doubt be uncomfortable to some people. His delivery, which is rapid fire and intense, but humorous, is designed to intentionally jostle the viewer "to become consciously aware of what we unconsciously assume."

People who truly want to change love it (and find nothing offensive) and people who are afraid of change "blame" Massey's style and "offensiveness." There is hope in the latter case -- the video has created what Massey calls a Significant Emotional Event (S.E.E.) for these folks, so capitalize on it, get them talking, and "get them off their assumptions" (If you don't, they're not going to change anyway)!