Two Types of Control

I was thinking about a few things today, and I had some insights.

When people say, "Might makes right" they are implying that strength wins out over truth, over standards. But where does skill come into play?

In just about any sport positive control takes a higher priority than strength. By positive control I mean words like discipline, focus, training, skill, accuracy. Positive control is an intelligent mental outgrowth, unlike strength. Strength always follows skill for a successful athlete.

But what happens when skill is not present? With the absence of skill, continued control becomes oppressive. Continued attempt to control may resort to lying, cheating, or stealing.

Have you noticed that when a company starts out small and humble, they are usually very popular with customers because they are so ready to serve. Service is #1 at this stage. The customer is always right. Then, their success tells them that they don't have to try so hard for your business, so they don't. They become complacent and comfortable. Then as their competition starts to take some of their business away they realize that they need to get on the ball, so they institute controls, which over time become dictatorial and oppressive. Some in management may decide to cut back on the work force, but the company continues it's downward spiral. That's because the workers are the ones doing the service work that originally gave the company it's initial positive reviews and purpose in life, and cutting them puts the company just that much further in the hole. The company has forgotten its roots, and maybe just doesn't care that much about it.

Negative control is dictatorship, and is directly opposed to service, even though it came from service originally. But it is said, "Pride goeth before the fall."

So how can we change that entity's course from a negative controlling dictatorial style, back to a service based and customer centered style? The complacency and comfortability need to be strongly attacked. The comfort zone needs to shrink. Get rid of the callouses and become sensitive again to others needs.

Where are the callouses? Where is the comfort zone?