TO KEEP UP, U HAVE 2 BE RUNNING: The Decline of Authority?

I have been in many a workplace, and in many conversations, in which 'authority-huggers' describe how they have kept to a single path for advancement. "I've been in this role for close on 5 years; I'll be in line then for the next stage. Some people wait ten!"

DO I SIT STILL, OR START RUNNING?

Globalised competition and cultural development is scary: It's also real. The Western world is competing with the accelerating curve in globalised commerce and consumption. The East has become less integral to the factors of production. The value chain is changing. China and India, with their explosive growth rates, are better positioned to service their own populations through regional links. Post-Jim O'Neill, and possibly reverting to history's pre-European norm, a BRIC has been hurled at the status quo. And there's likely no going back...

Therefore in future - and for authority-huggers, the future is just about upon us - iron stability will be the West's exposed flank in lieu of former strength. Dogged application to transactional goal-setting, to total specialisation in a single task could well spell, in the workplace, a suicidal venture for authority-huggers.

The simple fact is the developing world no longer needs us in our former capacity. And, whether China blows up or not (in reference to Ross Garnaut, an excellent thinker), APAC and India would still take up the slack. I remain skeptical about the N-11 (look at corruption in the Phillipines) but global governance has certainly bypassed the 20 C's Trilateral power bloc of Europe, Japan and the US. Whereas the US will conceivably remain the largest economy for some time and Japan hopes for a stock-market led resurgence through quantitative easing, it does appear there is no going back..

'WIFM' DOWN-UNDER?

Without a commitment to organisational and personal growth and development, I suspect very little. Further lay offs, increased international competition etc. Jagdish Bhagwati would speak for the yes case, David Harvey for the 'no'. But such is our 'new' reality..

For the moment, recruiters, businesses, managers and politicians are holding the fort on competency-based metrical stability and poorly designed management practices. (Australia has NEVER excelled the way America has in management practice).

In soon-to-be time, however, this design will be rendered redundant, if not obsolete, through global disruption.

For those who 'look' beyond the horizon in hopes of seeing, the future is bright. Increased prosperity through exciting bye-ways.

For the rest, the authority-huggers, a dispensable past.