In recent posts1, I've suggested that "muddling through" most accurately describes what managers - all managers - do in practice. whether done well or done badly. With this in mind, it was interesting to come across a Financial Times article of 28 February, in which Simon Kuper extends this idea into the political world.
Reflecting on the nature of politics and human fallibility, Kuper concludes,
"... promising the moon no longer persuades anyone. Politicians might try offering muddling through instead."
His observation provides an important health warning ahead of the policies, promises and pledges that will rain down on us from politicians of all parties, as next year's UK General Election gets ever closer.
This will come as no surprise to them, of course. But the formal 'rules of the game', the official rhetoric, and the interests served by maintaining the status quo, mean that exposing this reality upfront, as advocated by Kuper, might prove difficult! By failing to do so, of course, they further strengthen the myths of certainty, predictability, and control that continue to disfigure political governance, business management, and social relations.
On the other hand, openly acknowledging what they actually find themselves doing in practice might give confidence that they really do understand how the world works! And it might help to shift the conversation about the required nature of political (and organizational) leadership, social commentary, and organizational consulting to something that more closely matches people's lived reality.
______________
Note1 - Related posts:
Muddling through - with purpose, courage, and skill
More on the "muddling through" nature of real-world management practice
The "beautiful, ugly truth"... of organization anad management
Comments