Bucket list 40 – follow leader

June 22, 2014

I used to have my adult students play a game that was based on three-dimensional tic-tac-toe. The students were given very little information or instruction and worked out their ideas for the goal of the game. I sat in the front of the classroom with a “blind” covering the three-dimensional board. At first all the students would very shyly ask if they could place a tile on one of the spaces on the board; then bring the tile to me if I said the spot was empty. Soon some of the more adventurous students started simply bringing a tile up and handing it to me and telling me where to put it. The more the players thought about what had been given as the rules, the more they realized they could do to impact the game. Soon representatives from each team were standing next to the desk and the board and looking directly at the opportunities they had to win. The game went very rapidly then, with everyone able to see all the alternatives and make solid judgment calls as to where they would place, then win the grand prize.

As we dissected the game and its purposes, we enjoyed a rapid learning curve regarding given rules, implied rules, meta-communications, unenforced rules, and anarchy, or no rules at all. We looked at specific jobs and employers watching for similar types of rule structures. It took the students about a millisecond to understand that their very ability to maintain employment was predicated on a thorough, mutual understanding of the organization, its purposes, rules, maintenance of rules, and general working environment. Asking questions and reading employment materials is a good place to start; however, employees must dig significantly deeper by observation and review of cases past and present which addressed the value of rule structure.

One fine assistant professor was removed from his office and summarily fired over a weekend. Those that didn’t understand the rules of the game were shocked and dismayed that such a fine fellow could be there on Friday and gone the following Monday without as much as a farewell note. Another fine fellow, an administrator was released and gone in much the same manner. Both incidents were based on a false assumption that specific morals and/or communication codes were iffy and generally ignored. Unfortunately, they were both correct because as in “Animal Farm”,  . . .all people are created equal, some are just more equal than others.” While rampant, open, notorious breaches of moral and personnel policies went uncensored – even regaled as lofty and hip because of friendships which made these kinds of things invisible.

In recent months a county sheriff was arrested and given very harsh treatment for “stealing” gas for personal use. I have no knowledge of the case other than what the news reports; however, I suspect that on any given day, there are dozens of infractions of a similar nature incident to the number of police and other public vehicles driven to personal residences and for personal reasons. Again, the law regarding these vehicles is made very specifically to provide perks for police officers and as deterrent signs for citizens who might just see the vehicle in the neighborhood and be reminded to slow down, not steal, or whatever else may come to one’s mind. How far does one go without stepping outside the line? Some very diligent individuals hold rigidly to each specific law, ensuring to the best of their ability, that they are in full compliance. On the other hand those who enjoy cutting corners, watering down the law, or otherwise nullifying common values make very good examples for others that learn from example and we have full-blown wink and nod organization and structure.

In my three-dimensional tic-tac-tow game we found that without everyone understanding the rules of the game and how such rules were interpreted and understood, our entire life pattern is at risk.

May God bless each of us as we work through His vineyard and endeavor to be honest with all whom we come in contact!

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend