Some organizations will form around "political systems" that may have vastly different "reasons for being" than systems that take on the values of "social systems". Beckhard and Harris point out that “Political behavior is behavior designed to further the goals of a person or group, more or less regardless of the effect on others. Some rules of political-system behavior are vastly different from rules of social-system behavior.” (P. 25)
They include an example that contrasts the feedback and decision making structures within political and social systems to illustrate their point:
Within Social Systems:
- Feedback: Always provide open feedback on positive and negative aspects of behavior. Emphasize the positive, support and reinforce.
- Decision Making: Get facts quickly, make decisions, take risks.
Within Political Systems:
- Feedback: Never trust positive feedback from immediate boss, there will always be a “price tag” included. Trust third-party feedback but not from direct supervisor.
- Decision Making: Never make decisions until the last possible moment. Keep your options open.
(From Figure 3-1 System Norms – P. 25)
If it is true that some systems have political values that are inconsistent with the values of social systems, then perhaps leaders in "political systems" as defined by Beckhard and Harris should behave differently from those who exist within social systems.
Do any of you have opinions about how a leader who finds him or herself within a "political system" can succeed using the leadership concepts and models we have discussed in this blog?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
