Lessons for a father - Democracy At Work

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Democracy is beautiful. It gives all its members a chance to voice their opinion but also, better yet, to act on their choices.

The problem with democracy, however, is that it does not stop its followers from making bad choices. It allows, in other words, for failure to happen. To deal with failure and bad choices, there are, in due time of course, second chances.

India just went through its biggest national elections yet. And, it was inspirational. The way the elections were managed and the large numbers in which people came out to choose their leaders was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Time, however, will decide whether, we as a people, chose well.

That got me thinking. The constituents of a good team would usually behave as being a part of a well functioning democracy. Here is what I think would constitute such a team:

• People choose to work under a leader.
• Everyone participates in the decision making machinery.
• The leader, while representing the team, also makes sure an environment of growth is created and sustained.
• A mechanism for regular and open feedback is created, followed and appreciated.
• There are indicators and metrics that lets the entire team know how all of them, including the leader, are performing.
• A leader is also responsible to nurture the team and create future leaders.

Just like any government that runs a democracy, the success of a team, or a country, can take a huge step in the wrong direction if the aspirations of the people and that of the leadership are misaligned.

The great Abraham Lincoln once said -

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.

I completely, and wholeheartedly, agree with the great man. The idea of democracy or of a well functioning team is rooted in the same value structure, that we all work, for the people, by the people and of the people.

Are you a fan of a democratically run team?