I work in an organisation that is very complex in nature, and also very structured. We operate all over the planet across many industries and for global corporations, for government departments like public service, legal and law enforcement, administration, foreign affairs and trade, infrastructure and defense/military and all the rest, and also for privately run business enterprises...we even work all the way down to smaller businesses if they have the money to pay for our services. The organisation is multi-faceted, flexible and fluid enough to be able to tailor solutions to suit the customer's needs exactly, and is well-enough equipped to deliver services into the field quickly, efficiently and with a high degree of success - The organisation gets paid incredibly well for the services we provide and that's passed down as a benefit to all of us who work there.
It's complex though, what we do and how we do it, and therefore the company structure is complex; not something I prefer, but not something I'm unaccustomed to. It works usually, the systems and processes, but there's many twists and turns and sometimes that means things get tangled. This happened last week and it was...[I'm trying to think of the right words]...Fucken horrendous! Yep, they're the words.
The team, all of us no matter where we are around the world, all work under the same systems and procedures and with the same mission - deliver excellence, efficiently, every time - however, as always humans will be humans and problems occur.
Something I'm really pleased to see in my organisation is that people take ownership.
Human beings are fascinated with power, the feeling of it, thinking they have it, wanting it, chasing it, exerting it, increasing it...Power is not a bad thing either. For instance, having the power to command one's thoughts and attitudes can lead to great personal gain, as can the power to take better care of one's health or the wellbeing of one's family...maybe not power-things per se, just abilities, but the two could intertwine I think.
Anyway, in my organisation there are some who are more 'powerful' than others as with most organisations; there's a hierarchy, a chain of command, a leadership team and structure. It's good too, otherwise the organisation would be a shambles. What's great about how my organisation works is that people don't exert that power upon others, abuse or misappropriate it - No, they take ownership and use their power, status or standing in the chain of command to the betterment of the organisation, the end-user and those in the organisation as well. It's refreshing.
I'm fortunate enough to be somewhere within that leadership group, a responsibility I take seriously, and I'm focused on gaining the desired results and doing it in such a way that each member of the team feels empowered, involved and a critical element within the mechanisms that keep the machine working and producing the results the organisation needs. I work across the lines of power, up and down the line so to speak, with ownership, as do everyone in the organisation and what I've come to see is a great collective of people all with a focused eye on the ultimate goal and a fierce determination to deliver excellence and that makes for a great environment and one in which ownership has greater meaning than power.
What's been your experiences with a workplace, social or sporting group, family or any other place in respect of people misusing the power they have, or perceive they have, or using it wisely and to the common good? Have you found you've misused your own power, do you see being in a position of power as a responsibility or do you see it as an entitlement? Feel free to comment below if you'd like to.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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The workplace politics is something that made me quit corporate work. It is good that in your company people take ownership of issues. In a lot of companies that I've been, everyone, especially the managers are doing their best to push the blame on other teams. Some bosses even try to go behind other managers and talk directly to another team's staff, hoping to find a hole in their defenses. It was honestly very frustrating and tiring, since one always needs to be on guard in their emails, and how they talk to other teams.
Blame-pushing happens so often and is rarely productive; in my estimation it's never productive and I don't like those who do it - they lack ownership and discipline. Managers, (leaders) are often ill-equipped for the task and that's happening more and more due to inclusion and diversity agendas. It doesn't happen in my organisation though, those in leadership roles have earned them through many years of doing what they do, not necessarily in the organisation but in other places. I'm a leader (manager), have been for many years and many different organisations and all I can say is it's the leaders that have to work the hardest (maybe in different ways to others) and to lead by exemplary example.
I completely agree. I feel like those managers that practice blame pushing are setting a precedent for their employees. Eventually, when they retire and a junior gets promoted, the cycle continues.
Exactly...people see it as the way to lead as they know no different. It's not though and if change is embraced good things can come of it.
Would anyone ever admit to that?
Horrendous tangles are not fun for anyone (except maybe the person that intentionally caused the tangles with intent to sabotage?) and definitely not for the people that have to clean up afterwards. Did it get sorted?
I'd like to say no...but then I know people who may. People are pretty messed up sometimes I guess.
Did things get sorted...Kind of. I guess it's just the nature of the job, it's complex and ever-changing, and I prefer to be proactive and not reactive which, sometimes, we have to be. It's ok though, I survived the week and will front up for another on Monday. Also, just so you know...my work laptop came out of my laptop bag but you'll be happy to know I have not opened it since it was closed last night at 6pm. 😁
PUT IT BACK.
Otherwise good XD
Lol...it's sitting next to me calling my name, beckoning me, sitting there looking alluring and trying to seduce me into opening it. I'm resisting though.
Put it back in the bag, out of sight out of mind XD
I took your advice. It still calls to me, but it's muffled.
Put the bag somewhere you can't see it then XD
just don't forget where when you need to go to work
If all else fails there's probably an exorcist in the area somewhere ;D
I find myself lucky as well in that I have a great leadership team where I work - something that doesn’t seem to be too common in the world. I do wonder though if it’s becoming more of a widespread thing as long as you aren’t in that shit show government and their inefficiencies.
My team has solid leaders that don’t hesitate to jump in the trenches with us when it’s appropriate and get their hands dirty to help people get out of a bind. It’s a pretty good thing and it makes working with and for them a much more pleasant experience overall.
It is important when there is lines of communication and a power structure that isn’t a piece of shit - it makes the tough times or when things hit the fan and scatter everywhere, easier to manage and pick up the pieces to keep us going forward.
Hopefully you don’t have too many of those shit situations this year, they certainly don’t make it fun but it does provide for a learning opportunity if one is of the right mindset.
A good leadership team is critical to an efficient operation and growth, of course no leadership team can operate effectively without people to assist and that's where the whole team come into play.
I'm fortunate to have learned this a long time ago so the teams I've led have been successful, mostly, and those within the teams who are not on board have drifted away, or been speared. (Fired)
I agree with your comment about the power structure...I don't see leadership as power though, I see it as a responsibility to others, above and below, at to the mission at hand, the company, organisation, group, sporting team etc.
I'll have many more tough times, have in the past and will in the future, but that's leadership and I get paid accordingly. The thing is, in my experience, is that I'm only as good as the team around me so I work to build it, improve it, play to each person's strengths and improve their weaknesses; in this way they become more engaged, happier, more empowered and more understanding of the ultimate goal. That makes for a very efficient and profitable teams and when all the team (departments or whatever) are in this condition then the company is efficient and profitable and everyone gets paid accordingly.
Here in Cuba, everyone suffers from the evil of power. For example, when I was in the army, the chain of command was so rigid that no suggestion from a lower rank was heard. And if that lower rank was above in a position of greater responsibility, he was looked down on and many times even underestimated. Then in the hospital, the same thing. The bosses who command are from the old school. They don’t apply new methods, no matter how much they are recommended. They will use their power to do what they want, even if it’s not always the best. I think that this is reflected in the situation of the country and we can even see it in the government, where there are hundreds of ministers and all the measures are unanimous (how strange that everyone thinks the same). Here, the one who thinks differently or wants to impose another method is crushed by the power. There are few examples of someone in a chain of command who respects or relies on their inferiors
Yep, I'd have expected your first comment.
On your second sentence...This is common in military leadership and outside of the military also - people with egos, career aspirations or the need for the feeling of power leading others.
From a military perspective, it's more often found in regular services rather than special forces or SOF group, the latter promote thinkers and the mission is most important, not ego and power...although it still happens sometimes.
I'd rather one operator next to me that wants to be there, feels empowered, has the same focus and goals and is willing to show ownership and responsibility than ten operators that have to be pushed, cajoled and dominated over - The former will get things done, the latter will cause inefficiencies and more problems than they're worth.
I agree with what you said, I tell you, I have never liked that imposition of power, I consider it more a complex than an attitude to value. For me, leadership must be based on mutual respect, collaboration and mutual motivation. Through my entrepreneurship, I have seen that empowering your team or a person has an influence that has no comparison, it is like throwing fuel on the fire and as you say that is better than imposing. Here that seems to be a religion and the one who thinks differently does not advance, in that I have been lucky because for my luck my tutor has a very similar thought to ours and that has allowed me to advance a lot during my medical career
I agree, although sometimes the collaboration aspect is less collaborative as sometimes leaders see and know the greater picture that their teams may not be equipped to deal with...the leader is also somewhat of a filter I guess I mean.
I have always believed that power is a responsibility and not an entitlement, that is why I cannot assume any position of power especially in an organization when I know I am not fit for it. However,we cannot completely escape the position of power in the family; our age and birth position enthrone us on the seat of power even when we do not want to. I have been in this particular position of power and to me, it has been more of a responsibility than an entitlement.
Well, if you see power are a responsibility (which is what it actually is) you are well-suited to have power; too many people who are not worthy of it are given it.
Hi, Galen, I've been thinking about the subject, as you know I don't have any coworkers, in my org chart there is no one not above, not below or next to me. But I do have the experience of the abuse of power made by those who are supposed to care about the common good. That is, by those who "govern" me. A hug
Abuse of power can happen anywhere, not just in work, and usually for the very same reasons it happens in workplaces. Ego. I guess people feel they lack something and seek to find it through imposing their will or authority over others; that doesn't make for a great leader though.
Galen, I totally agree, if you are already sleeping I wish you happy dreams, a hug.
Not sleeping, it's almost 10:00 (10am) on Sunday. I'm just looking up session times for a move I'll see today, the new Ferrari movie with Adam Driver in it. 😃
😄See you tomorrow, I'm going to bed.🛌💤💤
It must be nice to work for a company that uses it's power to elevate it's workers moods and production. Yes a well oiled machine works much smoother when everyone is happy and feel respected. We need more of that in workplaces these days. Miss-use of power is far too common, it wears a person down over time.
The plants where we work treat their workers nice but we are temp contractors and our bosses and companies abuse pretty much who they want and mostly get away with it. Keep trying tho, one step at a time.
It's refreshing and, I know, reasonably rare to come across an organisation like mine; I do not take it for granted as I've worked in places that were the antithesis of the current.
Leaders, for some reason, often think it's best for productivity to exert power upon their teams but it never works as well as support, empowerment, leading with good examples and other such productive things. Sad really.
People act different in front of those bosses than behind their backs too. I'm trying to inspire change but old ways are rooted deep. Value it if you have it, glad you can appreciate it and be a proper leader for your team in return. Nowa days when bosses on the jobsite are too much, nobody moves. Maybe it will iron out someday. A lot of today's mental health issues probably comes from soul sucking conditions at work.
Change is often slow to come in this area; change in the leadership and also change in the general workforce which also have their issues to address.
Yeah, you are right, change is slow and it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, teaching the next gen to do better is best bet.
I have been in jobs where those who had power used it to their advantage, even exploiting the employees, always looking out for their own benefit, I saw that very clearly in one of the jobs I had here. In my case I consider that having power or a place of leadership implies a great responsibility, it can be a right because the person earned it, but great power includes a huge responsibility to others.
I have been in charge of people and I felt it more like that, always thinking of them.
You are a super organised and responsible person, detail oriented and disciplined, and surely an excellent leader of your team or of the people you are in charge of, I don't doubt that for a moment.
The exploitative manner in which some in positions of leadership approach their role and the people they lead us counter-productive. While the team may perform the job it's unlikely they will go to any great lengths to do any more than just the minimum and that ultimately costs the leader. I prefer to get the best out of people I lead and that's done not through dominating, bluster and exploitation, but through empowering, supporting and encouraging the team to build on their strengths, work on their weaknesses and to take ownership.
The latter was precisely what I did when I was a supervisor, not a super position, but I did manage people. And it was the best thing, we got on well as a team and achieved so much more!
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