Author: neil

Behaviour that emerges in complex systems – and all human societies and organisations are complex – often appears to be strange or sub-optimal. And it often is!  …if your only argument is “that’s inefficient” or “that’s a stupid way of doing things”, perhaps you should think again.

Thus concludes Rob Miller’s latest missive – a weekly newsletter that is always thought-provoking.  And how timely! Today alone I’ve had at least two instances where the “that’s stupid” phrase was thrown around. And I won’t even count the number of times I’ve heard it (even said it myself) in the last couple of months.

Empathising the reasons why things are done a certain way is important. What I’ve been struggling with, however, is once that empathising and reasoning why things are in place, the extent of discussion and hand-wringing by people who’s jobs are primarily to make decisions.  Decision rigor-mortis, that to me right now is the inexplicable phenomenon.

 

This weekend has gone by in a blur! Driving the young ones to their activities and birthday parties, investing time in the preparation required to understand the volunteer role I’m in, a silly season lunch and conversations with new folks (many of whose names I didn’t quite make the effort to ask as I’d normally do), and admin chores.. and it’s already well past bedtime on a Sunday night.

As much as it feels like it’s been a hectic week/ weekend, I’m grateful that I have so many people in my life. It’s a fine line between solitude (I love it) and loneliness (I’ve been there and I don’t wish it on anyone). Loneliness is a scourge, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with life. I know so many people who’d die to have one conversation a day – and can’t. Having the opportunity today to meet with so many people much older than I, I realise that the petulance that kids display when they don’t get what they want isn’t restricted to kids alone (:D). I learned to spar with some really witty folks, getting as good as I gave, and giving much better than I had done in a long time.

 

I’ve become involved with a local radio station in an official volunteer capacity. I decided to do so because it is indeed something I’ve long been interested in. While I’ve helped out on and off, this time round when the lady I’ve been assisting wondered if I was up to take on a role, I agreed without hesitation.

In the few hours since I got elected to the Board, I’ve learnt so much about human behavior. Whether it’s over-estimating their own importance,  getting on the offensive at the collective but targeting the softest target, the desire to do big creditable things but the unwillingness to put in the effort, the list goes on.

It’s easy to feel disheartened at this – to worry am I going to get caught in the middle?

I choose not to. I spent a few hours today, reviewing the state of affairs. Strategy, finance, technology, website, payment systems, content management, membership, nearly every one of those areas can be improved, substantially, with a little effort. The question I grappled with almost instantly was should I focus on the areas of my strength, or where it is most valuable for the organisation. Given the composition of my fellow team, I think focus on strategy and finance for the next couple of months are quintessential. Taking a broader, longer-term view, rebuilding after the horror of CoVID-induced destruction will be my gift to the community I’ve chosen to help.

 

 

My daughter came home earlier this week with burns on her arm. It was an accident at school involving hot oil, water, following her teacher’s instructions over her own instincts, with some instant repercussions. Worse still was her classmates castigation – that burned worse than the hot oil.

Respect for elders, and for authority, is a value that we have long spoken about with our kids. We’ve not spoken about the exceptions enough- the other side of the equation.  Standing up for yourself when the authority figure is stepping well beyond their remit, or abusing their authority.

Experiences such as the one she had this week are a reminder that nothing, even values, is black and white. We must learn from these experiences, kids and adults alike. We have to, or suffer the consequences.