“Management works IN the system; leadership works ON the system.” Stephen Covey
I alluded, yesterday, to the old adage utilised by many blind adherents to the status quo; “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” Such managers are following the old ways without thought, and are demanding that you do the same. Even when it is patently ineffective, or creates more work than is necessary. Work that stops you doing what is necessary, even essential.
I’m convinced that many of the stresses we endure are the creation of the bean-counters’ demand for numbers that serve little purpose, or the fear felt by those in power that they would be told off if that number wasn’t available. Or in the case of the CPS, that a failure to get an irrelevant piece of evidence might threaten their cosy conviction record so, safe in the knowledge that they can blame YOU if the trial date is pushed back because of their excessive demands, and that they don’t have to actually do the work, they create tasks for you.
Saying, “Get a statement off Fred Bloggs” is all well and good, but Fred might not be available, contactable, or willing. And if he is, his availability needs to match yours. And if he’s a vulnerable or significant witness, arranging a video interview could take weeks. But all the lawyer wrote was ‘Get a statement’, and her work was done. Now the delay is your fault.
(Write down the date the request was received, any observations you have on the need for it, and what you did to comply. Then, if the CPS slag you off, leak it to the Judge. But don’t tell them I said.)
Meanwhile, your less proactive managers, also scared of being criticised, meekly accept these demands and say, with a resigned sigh, “You have to do it.” Instead of creating a working party to look at the problem and either refuse to do it without a Court Order, or find a better way.
And while sighing, they pride themselves on calling themselves ‘leaders’. (I notice that senior management started calling itself Senior Leadership years ago, while still only managing.)
Leaders don’t blindly follow. They question, they research, they seek out the better way and they diligently and obstinately argue their case.
And there is nothing in that sentence that requires anyone doing those things to be in a supervisory role. Nothing.
Leadership, says Covey, is a choice, not a position.
The number of leaders I knew in the job who were ‘only’ first-level supervisors still impresses me to this day. They were the ones that led me to better things, who questioned instructions with wisdom and not stubbornness, and who created new and better ways of doing things. Some went further up the greasy pole: unfortunately, some started to follow the party line, but others maintained their leadership nous and made things better for everyone.
You can be a leader from right where you are. Question things, find out the reasons behind some protocols and practices and see, first, if what you are doing even complies with those motives. Then, if what you are doing doesn’t address the motives, point it out. If they do, then you can explore a better way that still complies with the intent, but is more streamlined.
People who follow without thought are never leaders. Even if that’s what their ego demands they call themselves.
Police Time Management 