Number 1 – Power or Force

Break down barriers that prevent progress and encourage the participation of all stakeholders.

Practitioners: tactical, integrative, and strategic

This idea is shared by all the practitioner levels.  The assumption here is that to accomplish this objective, one must have achieved some level of authority in the organization.  The common thought regarding power and authority seems to show up here, and it is easier for some to address barriers through the application of authority.  The question then is this: power or force, what makes them different?

Power is a function of influence.  Leadership is also influence.  Without relationships built on trust and respect, a leader’s influence is ineffective or nonexistent.  No relationship, no trust, no influence, and if there is no influence one is left to leveraging force.

Force is a function of authority.  Authority comes with the title associated with a specific role.  There are ways to remove barriers without authority, but levering force seems easier and faster.  Although this seems reasonable on its surface, it reflects a dangerous pattern of thinking to fall into. 

Choice carries power with it.  Anything made mandatory is carried out under force.  It may seem reasonable to force certain policies into place, but if they are truly beneficial and valuable they can be accomplished more sustainably with power.

Encouragement, on the other hand, cannot be accomplished with force.  It can only exist in the space of influence, more specifically, within the scope of mutually respectful relationships.  An operational excellence practitioner must have great skill in building relationships across organizational levels and functional boundaries. 

Questions For Your Consideration

Where do you see power or force present in your organization?

Where are improved relational processes needed to overcome some barrier to better organizational performance?

How does encouragement enable progress?

How do you respond to requests for help in removing barriers?

I hope you find this inaugural idea both familiar and thoughtful.  I hope you find a new way to overcome an old problem.