I love it when I can learn something new and significant first thing in the morning — even before I've had my breakfast. It bodes well for productive day. This morning, I was introduced to 'the tragedy of the commons': a way of understanding how self-interest and the common good interrelate (sometimes well, but most times poorly). The tragedy of the commons underlies the 'tragic flaw' in the democratic system. It explains how individuals are able to subvert the common good. I've made a great deal about going against the grain to change a corporate culture (and, indeed any culture). It may occasionally sound like I'm opposed to the current Western culture; yet my opposition is based on the opportunities that cultural change can bring to our way of life.
Has this ever happened to you? You're driving in very heavy, stop-and-go traffic, approaching a construction site of the right side of the road. For at least a half a mile, there have been signs saying, 'Right Lane Closed Merge Left.' Dutifully, you've waited your turn, and squeezed left into an open space. The right lane is narrowing as the orange-and-white barrels along the road way creep farther and farther into the right lane. Up ahead, there's a huge flashing sign with an arrow pointing left and the word 'MERGE' in big lighted letters.
Suddenly, a driver with the left blinker on comes tearing up on your right (in the disappearing lane) and tries to push you out of the way to take your place. You basically have two choices at that point: a) to allow the aggressive driver to squeeze in (possibly followed by others following his or her lead), or b) squeeze up closer to the car ahead of you in an attempt to force the aggressive driver to stop or hit you. If you've driven for any length of time, I know you've been in that situation. What have you chosen to do? If you've followed both scenarios, which one do you use most often? Can you reconstruct what you were thinking at the time?
The same scenario plays itself out continually in our culture. As political scientist Ella Schlager (from the University of Arizona) said, "Rational individuals are trapped. To act rationally, to pursue one's self-interest, leads to collective ruin. To act irrationally, to place the collective interest above one's self-interest, exposes one to exploitation." Washington Post columnist Shankar Vedantam (April 28, 2008) comments on Schlager's statement saying, "the only way to prevent tragedies of the commons is to set up structures in advance that reward long-term thinking and punish short-term selfishness." This requires social relationships of trust. Haven't I been writing about this since the beginning? (Long-term) planning supplies a critical element for success, and planning in a team environment requires acceptance, trust and engagement.
The win-win approach that Stephen Covey has so long promoted (in Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) works only with the cooperation of all involved. It only takes person with one win-lose attitude to subvert the entire process. Our democratic system is based on the win-win principle — the U.S. Constitution proclaims that its purpose is to "promote the general welfare" — and that opens it to any individual or group committed to promoting their own self-interest: the tragedy of the commons.
Once again, the only strategy that can effectively change a culture is the one the begins by changing yourself. Ironically, taking the stance that promotes the general welfare (the common good) carries with it the possibility that others may take advantage of you. There are only two things that you need to keep in mind at such times: a) the win-lose strategy carries with it its own consequences; and b) the only possible path that leads to genuine success leads through promoting the general welfare (long-term over short-term gain). Win or lose, maintaining your own alignment with your highest values gains you incredibly more in strength and esteem than any opportunist could ever take from you. So, next time that !@#$%^& cuts you off from the right lane, grit your teeth and take one for the team!
H. Les Brown, MA, CFCC
Copyright © 2008 H. Les Brown
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