If a particular disappointment or failure happens once….well…OK, it may be forgiven. If it happens more than once, it’s a pattern – resist it with fury and zero tolerance… and sound the air raid sirens in the process! That is the main thrust of this Mario Pretorius tip on confronting unwelcome events that morph into dangerous patterns. GK
Distinguish Events vs. patterns
We all hate excuses. We all hate disappointments and failures. But we need to classify these as either events or patterns in order to make appropriate decision on its meaning.
The once-offs may be excused when there is no malice attached. It’s the second appearance of a similar incident that should sound the air raid sirens all over. If not malicious, at least the turning of events into patterns denotes a habit of sorts; someone is hacking at the system or someone is playing truant with the truth. Events may be forgiven, but the emergence of a pattern must be resisted with a fury.
Patterns may emerge from condoned events. Even when condoned, the taproot must be firmly cut off to stop any subsequent proliferation of the unwanted plant. Too often our ‘understanding’ and empathy is misunderstood for a blanket condonation. Any subsequent firmness against an accepted unwanted happening may raise the temperature all around.
Trespassing once accidentally cannot, and should not, be waived away as an honest mistake. Time and effort must be taken to explain the consequences of trespassing as if it was done deliberately and provocatively. The impression of a suspended sentence must be imprinted. Hopefully this will establish the boundaries for all within earshot or in the grapevine: rules are not applicable only on the second try; it is a no-tolerance world and ignorance and happenstance may be excused only after the proper implications are detailed and understood.
Fire people for making deliberate or uncorrected major mistakes. Reward them for corrected major mistakes – that’s where learning and experience stems from.
Does this sound a little harsh? Perhaps, but the message should be cloaked in sweetness and in light, but resolute in its substance.
This tip is an extract from the manuscript of “The Unconventional CEO: Common sense outside of conventional Management thinking” (by Mario Pretorius).
