Democracy

I recently started singing with a local choir. A vote was taken at the last rehearsal about dress code for performances. Talking to other members, it was clear that a debate about this had rumbled on for many months. In the end, the vote was to choose between 'no change' (all black), or going to a mandatory white blouse for the women.

It would be easy to satirise this. But it's not easy to handle in real life. Everyone has an opinion, it's all subjective, so how do you reach a decision? Consensus is difficult, a 'leadership' decision may not be acceptable (perversely because it's not a very important issue), so what is the best course of action? Perhaps uncomfortable compromise is the occasional price of democracy.

McCain Decisions

There's been a lot of talk in the UK about the Republican choice for Vice President in this year's US elections (see here for one of the more interesting commentaries, especially about Ms Palin's media training). Whilst there has been much debate about the maverick McCain (and 'maverick' is one of those words that's supposed to be neutral but is almost always taken to be a negative), there's one thing I've not seen mentioned.

McCain appears to have made a choice based on limited information, instinct, and the need to move things forward. And guess what, for much of the time in office, a leader operates in a complex and changing environment, with incomplete information. Instinct, experience, luck, call it what you will, but they cannot just sit there waiting for perfect data in a perfect world.

Mr McCain, I admire you for taking a lead, and a risk. I think that shows you qualify for the big job.

Circus

You might remember some of the old films about circuses, the crises, the leadership struggles, how it all comes together on the big night. I saw a circus show yesterday (wonderful, magical, just go and see it), and was struck by the sheer scale of the challenge of putting together and running the show. It's not a permanent job (they only perform in what passes here for summer); many of the acts are small family teams from other countries, who decide to work with you for a season or two; the skill-sets are very different; language may be a barrier too. So the leadership challenge is formidable. These disparate teams are held together by the script, the design, and the vision. In fact they are held together by the energy and the vision of the leader. You can see it at work in this circus - the omnipresence, and force of personality, of the woman whose name is on the door.

Keeping onside

Much talk at the moment about Gordon Brown's leadership, and about the members of his cabinet who are openly supporting him, and those who are unavailable for comment. In commentary, Alan Sugar has said that everyone has to be onside for you to run a company (see here for the BBC story).

I don't think you necessarily need everyone onside. You stand a better chance of long-term success if you have a way of tolerating, moderating and incorporating alternative views. What makes it difficult is when people are broadcasting their views to the outside world, and not discussing them internally. It's more important to have everyone inside than onside.

Winning

1. Last weekend Valentino Rossi came second in the Moto GP at the Sachsenring, and as a result took the lead in the championship. Rossi is an experienced rider and a superb tactician, and there seems little doubt that he settled for second place on the day. One insight from his pit crew, was that their choice of tyres was made by copying the majority of their competitors.

Maybe it's simply a low-risk strategy. Or maybe it's a recognition that the only thing the team has to do is match - not necessarily beat - everyone else's engineering. Because what Valentino does, is ride the bike better than everyone else. It's an interesting lesson in how to win by focussing on the unique difference that you alone can make.

2. At a nursery somewhere in Gloucestershire earlier today, half a dozen three-year-olds lined up for an egg-and-spoon race on their sports day. As the whistle blew, five careered happily across the grass towards the finish line. The last carefully put one arm behind his back, and then purposefully walked forward. He took quite a long time to reach the tape because he was being very careful not to drop the egg, and not to cheat. He may not have won the race that everyone else was in, but he did win his own.

Status

In a serviced office, the support staff are briefed on the imminent arrival of the executive board of a government department, including the Permanent Secretary. There is tension and nervousness.

The board arrives, and its members deport themselves with dismissive disdain for the minions deployed about them.

The minister arrives, and is courteous, friendly, and talks to all as an equal.

As the team heads off to their meeting room, the receptionist says 'well at least one of them treated me as a human being'.

This board is responsible for one of the government's highest profile departments, and spends huge amounts of taxpayers' money to deal with some of our most intractable problems. What sort of culture might we expect in their team, do you think, given their exemplary behaviour?

At the same time, look how easy it is to make a good impression. And see how long the memories linger for those who witness it.

Good technology (the perfect digital camera)

Bought a perfect digital camera the other day. There is a button to turn it on, a button to take pictures, a button to turn on the flash, a little screen, and an up/down arrow to view what you've already taken. To make it even easier to point it in the right direction, there is a viewer for each eye.

You might quibble with the design, because it's aimed at small children. Yet it's does absolutely everything most of us need from a camera.

You might quibble that nobody would buy such a cut-down version of technology. Then look at the success of the Flip, which takes a similar approach to digital video.

This camera is a piece of technology that's been designed very carefully for its customers, and it works. It would be interesting to see an adult version. It would be even more interesting to see a few more people take this approach to the application and sale of technology.