Asking Permission

One of the most irksome things I've heard people say in conversation lately is this little quip: "After all, it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission."

What this says to me is that most people are so convinced of the entrenchment of power in their various workplaces, families and organizations that they would rather move ahead on their own initiative, knowing they will have to repent and grovel for a moment or two when confronted instead of go through the rigamarole and nonsense of trying to get something done the expected or defined way.

I love initiative. I really (REALLY) hate power plays. But just doing something, knowing you will have to apologize later for it, smacks of manipulation to me. It's much more honest to try to accomplish things by the accepted process, get stopped in one's tracks, and then decide to act anyway, knowing the consequences, than to act anyway without announcing your intention.

Those whose behavior constantly calls for (planned) apologies are as much to blame for sucky organizational systems as those who hold their power and won't bend or think outside their boxes. You're in the dance together when you play these games. You're just in different corners of the same dance floor.

Comments

  1. Lynn, my first time to comment on a blog - loved your comments. A bit of a tangent, but it made me think of what I just read about both employees and employers having to put too much energy into being political in the workplace. Why put so much energy into manipulating?

    Thanks,

    Cindy of Madison

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

If something I have written inspires you to respond, please do so here. Be thoughtful, be brief.

Popular posts from this blog

In The Therapist's Office (now)

Glad They Didn't Call

Memoirs R Us