I suggested to a potential client yesterday that one of my main functions is to be a shoulder to cry on for those in organisational life willing to step up to the mark and initiate change. The following quote from Machiavelli picked out by Dave Snowden sums it up nicely:
It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out nor more doubtful of success nor more dangerous to handle than to initiate a new order of things; for the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order; this lukewarmness arising partly from the incredulity of mankind who does not truly believe in anything new until they actually have experience of it
I had a horrible Friday for that very reason.
I've been delivering a social media strategy to a client. I told them at the outset, that we believed in transparency, accountability, delivering things quickly and sorting out problems collaboratively.
Now I've discovered that for the last seven weeks, the guy I report to day-to-day has been lying to the management board and not even telling them what my firm has delivered.
So that's why nobody's logged on.
Posted by: Gordon Rae | August 17, 2008 at 09:44 PM
There is a lot of game playing in business. Some would reckon that is just human nature but I think the "dog eat dog" business culture makes it seem OK.
Posted by: Euan Semple | August 18, 2008 at 09:06 AM
You might also want to take a look at Conford's "Microcosmographia Academica" which covers similar material with a lighter touch, in print since 1908. I've quoted a bit at: http://www.m3p.co.uk/blog/2008/05/26/microcosmographia-academica/
Posted by: Steve Freeman | August 19, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Nice quote!
Posted by: Euan Semple | August 20, 2008 at 07:18 AM