The Way of the Beaver

“The Way of the Beaver” is the second principle of being “Gung Ho”. When building a dam, beavers work independently but with a collective intent. It instructs around the benefit of, and need for, self-directed work...for the employee to be in control of achieving the goal.

The Way of the Beaver requires that the playing field upon which the employees work be level and that expectations around the goals and results be clear and consistent. No favoritism and ample resources are provided. It also means that the individual is respected for their thoughts, feelings, capabilities and contributions and that the work to be done is capable of being doing.  Asking for a goal of 1000 widgets to be produced in a day when the best that has ever been achieved by the best performing team is only 500 is not reasonable and will demotivate even the best workers.

The Way of the Beaver implies that the right work will be done the right way and that the actual people charged with doing the work know the best way to do their tasks. So management’s role is to provide the roadmap, communicate why the work is important, provide the necessary resources and tools, align goals and values, facilitate the team, and hold the rule-makers in check. And, then get out of the way and let the workers exercise their own best judgments in determining how the work should be done.

Are you a rule-maker who micro-manages your employees and tries to dictate how a job or task should be done rather than empowering your workforce to achieve the mutually agreed upon goal in a self-directed way?

From “Gung Ho” by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles.