Fiefdoms And Their Leaders

Seems like there's a natural tendency in workplaces to cloister, close, confine, protect. That's the default mode for many workers, their supervisors and management. I like to think of this as a little medieval fiefdoms that are carved out of an organization. I think the idea is that you want to keep solitary that which makes you unique and at the same time control how the organization judges you and your fiefdom (sometimes fiefdoms are single person entities).

When you get good at something, it's natural to try and protect what you know and use it to your full advantage. For a worker, I think the attitude is a little forgivable. Their job is not to maximize department output, decrease inefficiency, increase output. But what about managers that have this attitude? Sometimes managers are just longer term employees that got promoted up. I guess it's possible for them to bring their attitudes with them into the more senior roles.

The leaders are also not beyond the scrutiny of their managers in turn. So if a persons natural tendency is to spin, massage, or deflect the information used to judge their performance, likewise they will protect their departments or divisions in the same way.

The problem is that in this environment, creativity is stifled, fear is at maximum warp factor, mistakes are not forgiven, so everyone is really wearing professional handcuffs. The mantra - in the fiefdom, there is safety, let's all retreat to the fiefdom.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to change attitudes instantly from petty fief to benevolent and potent leader? Well, there isn't one; stop dreaming. It's hard work to change your attitude. A daily grind fighting your own worst enemy. But you have to do it if you want to get off the fiefdom and do something fulfilling.