A while back I was at a party and found myself in a conversation that turned into the area of leadership and the lack of follow-through on decisions and decision making. It actually started out as a discussion on social media and the availability of information, and my friend felt that part of the problem was that there’s simply too much information. Though I see his point, I’m not sure I agree, but that may of course be because of my interest in social media.
My friend described a scenario where the same issues that were debated four years ago was still being debated today, with the same arguments. In other words, not much of a discussion because of the new information or development and progress, just simply the same old situation.
This got me thinking about the lack of following through on decision making, but I found myself thinking also that the root of the situation has more to do with indecision that decision making. If you make a decision, at least you have the opportunity to measure the result, and if it’s not what you want, set a different course after your evaluation. With indecision, no one’s made responsible for a further course of action… and so nothing happens.
The Blame Game
The conversation I just mentioned came back to me a few days ago when I saw a couple of clips from the climate meeting in Copenhagen, especially with regards to decision making, or the lack of it depending on how you view the agreement they finally reached.
The first clip was of John Kerry talking about how China will be the biggest contributor to the climate problem in the years to come, and therefore should make major changes to their policies. The second clip was of Hugo Chavez telling all rich countries in general that if the climate crisis was a bank, it would be saved right away (I believe he also mentioned how he got this from one of the signs from the activists).
Now, both of them are probably correct, so I’m not going to pick sides here. China is going to be a major contributor to the problem, and I can’t believe anything else than that rich countries in the world could do (and should do) more to amend what is happening to the climate. However, is this really the right time to play the Blame Game? Put differently:
What’s going to happen if we are more focused on pointing fingers, than actually doing something about what’s happening?
Make A Decision, Take Action
There are lot of voices on both sides of the climate issue, but it seems to me that we’re at a point where something needs be done. In light of this it’s quite interesting, and I guess sad, that even world leaders from across the globe fall into the same patterns as the leaders at my friend’s workplace. What do you do when no one wants to take responsibility themselves. Are we looking at a “climate cold war”? I think it’s a strong image of just how little we trust each other.
Of course, these were just a few news clips, so the accuracy may not be that spot on, but I still think it’s telling that everyone was trying to push their wishes on everybody else, rather than do something about the situation themselves. This was one of those times in history where it was time to lead by example. Imagine what could have been if this had been the case.
Avoid The Crysis, Or The Need For Immediacy
In the game Crysis the US and North Korea find themselves fighting together against an alien enemy. They are thrown into a situation that requires other conflicts to take a backseat. A common threat puts a higher value on what we have, and what we stand to lose unless we take action NOW!
Typical in fantasy and science fiction literature, movies and games are the encounter of races with a lifespan far longer than that of human beings. This length of life beyond what humans are used to give these races a different perspective on what we do to each other and the way we live. I wonder of this is the case with the climate challenge. As fast as it is moving, it’s still too slow for the world to actually join forces and take action. We’re still waiting for everyone else to make a decision.
Why is it everyone else’s responsibility to take action?
Or, how about: how could we make that responsibility our own, take action, lead by example, and share our progress and innovative thinking with everyone else in order to create a better environment?
Share your thoughts.
And on that note, to all of you stumbling onto my blog, I wish you Merry X-mas 