I have been reading a lot of detective novels recently. The central figure, let’s not call them a hero since they have flawed personal life’s, broken marriages, rarely see their children and friends they have lost touch with all because of the demands of the job. The central figure is always anti authority despite working in a very hierarchical organisation – the police force. They have no time for paperwork, office politics or standard procedures. They ignore the rules, cut corners, upset their bosses but they catch the criminals.
Often these individuals lack interpersonal skills, drink too much and have none too secret vices, gambling, collecting rare first editions or supporting an unfashionable football club. They may be interesting but they are not attractive individuals. They are not particularly successful in that their career has stalled despite their cleverness; largely because successive bosses consider them a liability, likely to upset important people like politicians by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time even though it is the right thing.
Their passion for the job is acknowledged but not admired by their less able, less committed, more cynical career minded colleagues. But they often command the loyalty and respect of their team.
Why are such figures so common and so popular in literature and television? Is this the dynamic, rebellious manager we would all like to be if only we didn’t have a mortgage and kids at university. Because the reality is most of us are not like this. We make compromises, we do the boring stuff like responding to emails, keeping the recording up to date, authorising expenditure, attending meetings and we follow policy and procedures most of the time and do not disagree with our boss too often- at least in public. We may not be compliant by nature but are made so by the work place. Yet the organisation also needs people who challenge the way things are done in order to respond to changing circumstances. If budgets are cut, whilst demand is increasing, if service user expectations are rising and continuous improvement is to be maintained then managers will need to be innovative. So just like watching the detectives some insubordination, deviance and disregard for accepted ways of doing things will be tolerated, provided it gets results.
One thing to remember is that these detective stories are always written from the point of view of the maverick cop no thought is given to the person who has to manage them! Never quiet sure what they will say or do next, which important and influential person their cavalier attitude and characteristic bluntness will up set, which carefully nurtured relationship they will jeopardise by their rash actions or what damage their disregard for procedures might cause to the reputation of the organisation. Because in the real world these things matter.
Blair McPherson
Director of Community Services