Dominic Cummings - a new kind of (anti-)hero..

[Petrushka]

Excellent article from Andrew Rawnsley in today's Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/30/tories-faustian-bargain-lord-of-misrule-boris-johnson

[Anastasius]

Excellent article from Andrew Rawnsley in today's Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-boris-johnson

True but let's not forget. A lot of the things Cummings is going on about, he was recruited to stop. The sooner that we put into statute that you cannot be an MP etc unless you've had x years actually doing something sensible/worthwhile/managing people/building something. Not a bloody career politician fresh out of university with zero awareness of how the world ticks.

[Serial_Apologist]

True but let's not forget. A lot of the things Cummings is going on about, he was recruited to stop. The sooner that we put into statute that you cannot be an MP etc unless you've had x years actually doing something sensible/worthwhile/managing people/building something. Not a bloody career politician fresh out of university with zero awareness of how the world ticks.

MPs and Councillors are selected by local parties. Politics is organised into parties based on local organisations. The only alternative is to ban local political organisations and have everything run top-down, as happens in industry and business. Nobody complains about lack of democracy in business and industry because the public are divided between being producers who have to fulfil employers' demands, consumers who have to be cossetted, and those unwilling or unable to earn livings through work; and everybody is led to see everybody as being in competition with each other over winning the rewards, and then praised for community spirit the moment the whole system threatens to collapse under the weight of its own contradictions and consequences. Furthermore the oft-vaunted grass roots up basis of local democracy is often subverted from the top in any case, which is virtually tantamount to top-down imposition. In all these cases, ordinary people are only to be held responsible for not being able to hold those at the top to account: we see this time and again, but everything, from religion to social group think to inducement, conspires against it being seen through, and anyone pointing out what is going on and why this is happening is put down as anything from troublemaker to misguided idealist.

[oddoneout]

True but let's not forget. A lot of the things Cummings is going on about, he was recruited to stop. The sooner that we put into statute that you cannot be an MP etc unless you've had x years actually doing something sensible/worthwhile/managing people/building something. Not a bloody career politician fresh out of university with zero awareness of how the world ticks.

Judging by what happens with the appointment of senior managers and especially CEOs and the like I'm not sure that would help. Having a fixed idea how to "run things/manage people" from what has got them up the ladder isn't necessarily preferable to someone who lacks experience and that fixed view. The most important quality is the willingness and capability to learn, and quickly, to fill in the gaps. That may come from having a life in the "real world", but not automatically. Private school and a place in the family firm aren't the best grounding but would fill the experience tick box ?

[Serial_Apologist]

Judging by what happens with the appointment of senior managers and especially CEOs and the like I'm not sure that would help. Having a fixed idea how to "run things/manage people" from what has got them up the ladder isn't necessarily preferable to someone who lacks experience and that fixed view. The most important quality is the willingness and capability to learn, and quickly, to fill in the gaps. That may come from having a life in the "real world", but not automatically. Private school and a place in the family firm aren't the best grounding but would fill the experience tick box ?

Excellent statement - one of the best posts on the forum thus far this year.

[Bryn]

Please note, this link leads to criticism of the government, rather than the particular political party that happens to be in office.

[Bert]

Judging by what happens with the appointment of senior managers and especially CEOs and the like I'm not sure that would help. Having a fixed idea how to "run things/manage people" from what has got them up the ladder isn't necessarily preferable to someone who lacks experience and that fixed view. The most important quality is the willingness and capability to learn, and quickly, to fill in the gaps. That may come from having a life in the "real world", but not automatically. Private school and a place in the family firm aren't the best grounding but would fill the experience tick box ?

I disagree. I think it's much simpler. A modicum of IQ, plenty of EQ (emotional) and most important of the lot (and closest to what you say) is AQ (adaptability quotient).

[gradus]

Aren't psychopathic traits supposed to characterize many succesful leaders, certainly acutely heightened self-interest and ruthlessness towards others were characteristic of some effective leaders I've worked with and for in large companies.

[muzzer]

Indeed, but Cummings isn’t a leader. That’s the point. He couldn’t run a bath.

[Serial_Apologist]

Aren't psychopathic traits supposed to characterize many succesful leaders, certainly acutely heightened self-interest and ruthlessness towards others were characteristic of some effective leaders I've worked with and for in large companies.

I remember working under so many managers who would take a dislike to one, to the point of threatening one's dismissal, who would then be moved on and replaced by a manager with whom one got on perfectly. How Personnel dealt with the contradictory reports is hard to imagine. A good manager needs to be in communicative awareness with his or her staff as well as dealing with "things". One day we will have a society in which people in authority will be elected, given so long to get their feet under the table, so to speak, and subject to recall to ranks if not fulfilling their functions - and not just in the political field. That will be a much happier work environment, not one in which there is the constant one-upmanship of courting favour from on high. It will come - after my time, sadly.

[teamsaint]

Indeed, but Cummings isn’t a leader. That’s the point. He couldn’t run a bath.

Was Campaign Director of Vote Leave not a successful leadership role ?