The recent seismic shift in the relationship between the Media, Government and the Police gives a timely opportunity to reflect on the recent article on Boundaries.
Many of us have watched with fascination as this drama has developed and in the last two weeks as the dominoes have rapidly begun to fall. Suddenly, a crack in the pavement has become a virtual earthquake. The metaphor of shifting boundaries seems even more appropriate than ever as we see Leadership, Corporate Governance and yes, Basic Human Values in business, being challenged in the full glare of twenty four hour news.
But away from the glare of the cameras and in the cool light of day it has become evident that people and organisations will, in the future, have to take responsibility on a variety of levels. Across all types of media, it is obvious that, as with most things, the problems are multi-factorial and there has been a collective failure, at a leadership, corporate governance and also a basic human value level. Every person in a company must take responsibility within the organisation for the interpretation of and delivery of values; from employees to management and at board-room level. Collective Responsibility.
I have always thought that non-executive directors were the ‘conscience’ of the company but I am even more sure now that there should be a ‘collective conscience’ throughout an organisation, from top to bottom and side to side – and these can create the boundaries.
My recent article on Boundaries on Business looked at the importance of boundaries in business and life and what can happen with negative effect with rigid, porous or absent boundaries and the positive and successful effects of well-developed and well-maintained strong yet flexible boundaries.
And the moral of the story is that prevention is better than cure. And if not prevention then at least, look for the tell-tale signs of it all starting to go wrong. You can only be accused of negligence if, when you first become aware that things are going wrong, you fail to act. Caveat Res Rei!