“A leader shouldn’t apply the rigidity of the policy but should be interested in the flexibility of the rules.”
The care-based approach is purely common-sense. The Holy Scriptures and popular religions always preach: ‘Do what you want others to do to you’. The final approach is the rule-based thinking which proposes that when leaders are in dilemma, they should consult the highest principle or policy.
I use this often times in people management. My big question to offenders has always been: ‘What does the policy say’? It has been argued that you don’t get innovative if you refer many times to policies. But I can also confirm that leaders who refer to policies in dilemma situations have come out champs even in adversarial conditions.
Notwithstanding, note that beyond the policy is the leader judgement. The policies and procedures must be respected within the context of the situation, and using your sense of judgement to interpret and apply every word of the policy redefines objectivity in leadership dimensions. A leader shouldn’t apply the rigidity of the policy but should be interested in the flexibility of the rules. It’s not what the policies say but it is how the policy is applied, and what it is used for.
Put your thinking caps on, when you find yourself in a dilemma situation. Remember, all the approaches proffered by Kidder in dealing with dilemmas require thinking. To manage dilemmas, a leader must be principled ethically, and should be all-time ready to face surprises. What may be a dilemma today could be just an issue of morality tomorrow. Take your time. Decide right.
Choose right to win in dilemma situations. It’s always about understanding the chapters. A day shall pass. Another day will come. A day at a time may sound pleasing to the ear. Until we actually read to understand the chapters, we’ll still be here. Understanding the activities of each day requires a lot more.
A day in the life of a leader may be filled with stories, interesting scenes, songs, family matters, work gossips and sometimes avoidable dramas. Yet, leaders survive each day with pride, so to start another day in humility and freshness.
Leaders go through phases as chapters of rough edgy storms pieced together by day. If you’ve heard anywhere that leaders learn on the go, it means leaders learn to understand the chapters as they unfold in their busy schedules. As long as leadership is also about finding solutions and enduring to deal with complex matters and inspiring multitudes, leaders have full obligation to understand the chapters to be prepared all the time. When you understand the chapters, you’ll know when and how to flip the pages.
Leader preparation is not a pleasant process. It feeds into leader rites of passage, if you like. You stash more experience and shelve immaturity to understand the chapters as days go by. Every chapter must give a new learning experience. That’s the whole idea. Not all leaders go through the process. Not all leaders read the chapters. That is why leader experiences are different. Some flip the chapters in the process.
They don’t go through the details. It is known that some do corporate politics to get to the top, and they get exposed in the end. The best way to do corporate politics is not doing politics at the office. Work your way up! Be seen and known as the employee who excelled to the top. That’s glory. People who work their way up don’t wade in credit taking.
They earn team respect by taking on team responsibilities. It’s one thing reading the chapters and another thing understanding the chapters. Don’t be quick to run, jumping up and down, and brushing through the chapters. Don’t avoid sensitive issues affecting the team within the chapters.
