- Our perceptions dictate not only how we will manage workers, but how we want to govern the people.
I have described the differences between liberals and conservatives on more than one occasion. More recently, I examined their personalities, but herein I want to discuss their perspectives of the American people.
In the business world, one of the elements used to determine our style of management is how we perceive our workers, such as their strengths and weaknesses, their ability to assume responsibility, and their intelligence level. If managers perceive workers as lazy and unintelligent, they will likely chose a "Theory X" form of management, representing autocratic rule and considerable micromanagement. The byproduct of this "top-down" form of management promotes a slave mentality in workers. However, if they perceive workers as intelligent and responsible, they are more likely to implement a "Theory Y or Z" management philosophy, e.g., empower the workers, and turn them loose with minimal supervision. This "bottom-up" approach provides more freedom for workers, and encourages teamwork and personal initiative. This distinction is true in the political world as well.
Liberals tend to look upon the people as unintelligent and lazy, requiring someone to chaperone and think for them. In this way, they want to govern in the manner of a parent to its children, e.g., the parent knows what is best, the parent makes all the decisions, the parent watches the child's every move, the parent dictates how the child must think. This is "Theory X" behavior in its robust form.
There is an element of truth that certain people behave like cattle and need to be herded accordingly. These are people who shirk responsibility and are content to be nothing more than wards of the state. The vast majority of the American people are intelligent, assume responsibility for their actions and want to think for themselves. These are people who embrace the concept of capitalism as opposed to socialism.
Conservatives believe in the rights of the individual, that each person must accept a certain amount of risk in their lives whereby they might succeed or fail. All they want is a chance, and not be encumbered by too much management or bureaucracy. This again is analogous to "Theory Y or Z" whereby the people are empowered and turned loose with minimal supervision.
It all comes down to simple human perspective. From it, our political ideology is formed just as our style of management is formed from observing our workers. Those who comfortably behave like sheep will gladly accept the liberal agenda, while responsible workers who are freethinking will accept the conservative agenda.
So, should people be able to roam on their own, or do they have to be herded? Your answer will dictate your political ideology.
Keep the Faith!
Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.
Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com
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Copyright © 2014 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
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