Stewardship

Like many of my colleagues, I have been struggling with Block's text.  Perhaps we are so well indoctrinated into the post industrial management by results, that we can't even see we are bought into this system?  Could it be that even here at BGI, we see management as being about power and wealth instead of accountability and service.  I think so.  Since I am starting to supervise a small group that has been without direction for some time, this book is a challenge to me.  I could rush in and start telling them what to do (if only I knew what to do) or I could start some team building so as to create partnership and a balance of power.  I think if we develop a balance of power, we are likely to get better results and I might keep them in the shop a little longer.  Things generally are so bad at work, because we are set on managing by results.  But, I will try to take some of these stewardship elements to heart in an effort to make our little workgroup shine.  Accountability in both directions...

Four requirements of partnership (Funny Block titles it this way, but describes five requirements in this section):

1. Exchange of purpose, we are all responsible for defining vision and values 
2. Right to say no without fear of recrimination
3. Taking personal accountability so as to achieve joint accountability (I think my parents used to call this group responsibility, and the phrase often emerged when we started tattling on each other)
4. Absolute honesty is achieved in an atmosphere where there is redistributive power and less vulnerability
5. Maintain contact without control, not abdication

pps. 29-31.