Getting the Balance Right

" Governing a large country
  is like frying a small fish
  you spoil it with too much poking "
The Book of Tao

This post was triggered by the above quote and an article in the WSJ on innovation in farming [read here ] .

Here we are talking about balance in the workplace. Getting it right between micromanagement on one extreme and a lack of innovation because people are afraid to fail, on the other side. Striking the right balance between autonomy and an atmosphere of being willing to try something new, whether it fails or succeeds.

Probably the later is the most challenging. It is better to fail, fail fast and learn from the mistakes. What worked, what didn't and then move on. A lot of places get caught out when they become mired in the " sunk cost fallacy ".

Every workplace has certain requirements, which must be followed. But as yet I haven't come across anybody who loves being micromanaged. Here is where the balance needs to be found. Micromanage to the maximum degree and no one will tell you when things are going wrong. No one will share any ideas for improvement because the micro manager has nuked the willingness to help out of the souls of your staff.

This feeds into innovation. With no ideas bubbling up, you start to look at what your competitors are doing. Then comes copy and paste innovation. Because you want to do what they are doing, failure is not an option. The thinking becomes catch up. The mantra is " catch up or be left behind ". You pour money in and what comes out can only described as scrambled noise.

Getting the right balance is the challenge. Too much poking and you spoil what is working. Being afraid to fail and people will just copy and paste to keep you off their back. When you do decide on something and three quarters way down the road, you realise you have a mess, but because the sunk cost fallacy is ingrained, you will plough ahead and produce something. Something your customers do not want or care about.

You will have to take a hard look at your business. Why you seem to be playing catch up all the time. The balance between what is required for the business, have engaged employees and a system that allows people to innovate, but also pulling the plug when you see the dogs dinner is been cooked right in front of your eyes.
This is your challenge, should you wish to proceed to the next level.

One idea ; start praising the effort put into the innovation, stop the critics. You may be surprised what happens when people feel free to innovate without being castigated.

Colin Myles
Author

P.S.
" When you start walking the way, the way appears " Rumi

P.P.S.
GRIT
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