To most people, business continuity plans (BCPs) are about as interesting as aviation security announcements. To the average employee, compliance trainings are probably as fun as airport security checks. Having downside protection in relation to an abstract scenario leaves a majority of people unbothered, simply because it is easier for us today to imagine our likely tomorrow –as opposed to an unlikely situation a year from now.
So, as the world got punched in the face by COVID-19, we learned that existing contingency plans did not really work, probably because nobody thought it was purposeful or fun creating them in the first place. Generally speaking, most people are bad at things they do not really care about. That also includes following rules one does not understand or perceive as useful.
What resulted was a situation in which we needed to improvise, devising effective solutions fast. Initially, few managed to do so. Gradually, governments and the private sector got up to speed. Now that we have (somewhat of) a plan and a common enemy (the virus), we still lack overarching purpose.
We must realise that enforcing new rules and compliance measures alone won’t make people care about playing their part. Mainly, that’s because rules are rarely designed to be human-centred. Which is a problem if the intention is for people to follow them.
Also Read: 10 things you should incorporate into a business continuity plan
Following rules for fear of consequences is an extrinsic, highly reactive behaviour: We do it because we have to, often with a minimum effort approach. Beyond that, what we really need is everyone to proactively do the right thing. That means moving beyond rules alone and making people concur with a universal purpose in doing so.
A rule is an equivalent of telling someone: Actually, I do not trust you to do what is right, therefore I shall be forcing you to do it. Rules are important as a fallback for when purpose does not do the job, but they cannot and should not replace efforts to make people believe in behaving rightly. The way to reduce alcohol consumption is not taxation alone, it is in swaying public opinion of it from positive to negative. For that to happen, social dynamics need to compel everyone to consider this shift worthwhile.
Bottom line: We need to stop thinking rules will fix everything all by themselves. Mobilising as many as we can to champion the right behaviour should be an absolute priority.
Exactly the same applies to organisational transformation and equally, personal growth. We must seek consensus on the why behind the change before we reach for the whip. As a famous saying goes:
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, instil a yearning in them for the vast and endless sea.
In fact, telling people what to do automatically makes them feel they are not in charge, which is dangerous especially in times like these. More than ever, we need each and every one of us to contribute to solving the global Coronavirus problem. Now that we have the urgency and we designated rules to follow, let us address that glaringly obvious missing element connecting humanity in this global fight: A simple narrative to unite us in purpose. That will change everything and leave behind a better post-crisis world.
It is time to stop thinking rules will fix this, and empowering us everywhere to feel we are part of the solution, not the problem. Perhaps this approach will also finally get us on a right track in addressing climate change. We must believe in it because we actually care and want to make a difference. We must feel this challenge is our problem and that our contribution will be part of the solution. A wise person said, “The difference between heaven and hell is doing things willingly.” Investing globally in proliferating shared purpose and agency for all of us to tackle our planet’s biggest challenges will make us feel much better regarding the current situation we are all in, and leave us with better future for humanity. I would say it is worth it.
(By the way, the ship quote is by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, also known as the author of The Little Prince. We can learn a lot from that chap.)
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The post Tyson 2.0: Why everybody should not make a plan only after getting punched in the face appeared first on e27.
