I heard about a man who shot all the coyote on his property and then complained about the rabbits.
Decision making is not easy. It requires consideration of all the variables.
Once there was a man who told his contractor to build the brick fireplace on the second floor but eliminate the masonry mass on the floor below to save money. The contractor patiently explained if there was no fireplace below, the one on the second floor would soon be on the ground floor.
Decision making is hard work. It requires attention to detail, forethought, and an open mind. Otherwise, you end up with unintended consequence.
Once upon a time, angry decision makers went into the wetlands and killed all the beaver, only to discover a fallen tree flooded the road. The tree was removed. Problem solved…but the beaver were still dead.
To achieve the best outcome, there is an order in which to do things. And the reason is: the solution is inherent in the problem. That is, the definition of the problem must come first because an accurate definition of the problem makes the solution clearer.
There are actual steps:
- Face and define the problem.
- Identify the least action necessary to solve it.
- Work together with a mutual desire for the common good.
- Finish and move on.
Back in a time when disagreeing wasn’t dangerous, fact wasn’t debated, and it was okay to have a sense of humor, this method was easier. But no matter the roadblocks, the correct process leads to the correct outcome.
For example, there is a national brouhaha about police and policing. Imagined to be so hard to solve, so complex, but is it?
Stockbridge Police Sergeant Louie Peyron took new recruits under his wing. He put them in a cruiser, drove the streets of Stockbridge, and said, “Look out the window. See those people? That’s who you work for.”
The correct diagnosis leads to the best solution.
We should thank all those willing to serve this town. Governing is decision making, and decision making is hard. Some take the steps out of order. They propose a solution before defining a problem. Possibly they are pushing their desired outcome regardless of the need; I hope not.
Thank them and ask them please to pay attention to process or Stockbridge will end up with a profusion of rabbits.
