Listening to a recording of Nicky Gumbel talking the other day we heard a wonderful story about a prisoner who had found Christianity in prison and was asking for various reading materials to help his mother at home to consider Christianity.
Nicky read out a letter that a senior person in the Alpha Organisation had written saying, if there is no money in the budget 'then just send the bill to me.'
As Nicky said - for anything to happen in life 'Someone has to give.'
Whether that be in 'money' or in 'time' - 'Someone has to give.'
I like that!!
It got me thinking about how often in my healthcare career I saw passion and enthusiasm of staff stifled or even completely crushed, simply because the system says 'Sorry pal - there is no money for that.'
What a let down! What a terrible thing to say to someone.
How refreshing if managers could just say – ‘To hell with the cost, we are going to do that because this member of our staff is so passionate with the idea that she will probably make it work!’
Then I realise I am just dreaming about some ‘promised land’ that I am always accused of seeing through my well known rose tinted glasses.
Let's put the record straight immediately - I am not saying – ‘ignore budgets and money’ - I am not silly.
I am saying – how wonderful and liberating it would be to hear managers saying – ‘I don’t care what the policy says - we are going to encourage this person.’
Is it really that radical?
I am not suggesting anarchy - just a little common sense please about how to motivate staff.
Someone has to give - Is this asking too much?
7 comments:
Sadly in my experience the decision making processes are 80-90% irrational. If you can explain/justify it to a six year old then it is silly that we are not able to make these kind of decisions.
We just need more six year old's in management.
Nice reponse Frank - two of my favourite quotes
"Strategies are okayed in boardrooms that even a child would know are doomed to fail. The problem is there is never a child in the Baordroom' Victor Palmieri
Another I like is from Freud
'What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant inteligence of a child and the feeble mentality of the adult'
Hi Rosa - In my experience as manager in healthcare for 35 years far too many people give up too soon. I agree with you about that. In my experience, doors that we think are closed are often in fact, ajar. I was always more motivated by bosses who took a few risks with the money than those who boasted about their under spend at financial year end. As far as I am concerned in healthcare the only thing an under spend mean at the end of the year is that some patients somewhere missed out. There is absolutely nothing to be proud of with an under spend in a healthcare department!
The power of giving is immense. Everything that exist follows the law of giving back. When we plant something it usually gives back in fruitage much more than the one seed planted. man is the only being that seems to want to work counter to that concept. Man has learned to save and hoard. In the process we have learned keep instead of give. Your example and the well tought comments prove the power of giving is strong and creates abundance for all. great topic, thanks.
Good topic Trevor.
But such things require people - open mind, kind, energetic ones. If on one level there is a person who can make such decision but from one lever higher he can be punished for that - it won't work!
Dmitry.
Hello Dmitry – greetings from England, it’s great to hear from you. I think you are the first person from Russia to comment on my Simplicity Blog – and you are very welcome.
I agree with you that a person ‘higher up’ in the pecking order can often be an obstacle and I have seen many people give up when they are faced with the answer 'no.' I can understand but if an idea is worth pursuing then the person must try hard to overcome obstacles and fight for their cause if they feel it is right. The best leaders in my opinion encourage their staff to take risks and push the limits and constantly ask questions about 'why we do things this way.' Truly great leaders will also find a way of getting round the problem ‘we have no money’
I have visited your Blog - it looks terrific - well done!
I hope you will become a regular Simplicity reader :-)
Thanks Trevor,
Btw - your blog is in my RSS feed ;). Don't miss any of your posts!
Good Luck!
p.s.: I would really appreciate if you hava a chance to write a few quotes here http://www.dmitrylinkov.com/2006/04/11/need-help/#comment-75
Post a Comment