I had dinner with Peter Schutz the other night. Peter was the CEO of Porsche from 1980-1988. He helped me kick off one of my executive groups in 1996. I hadn’t worked with Peter since 2001, but Peter is the kind of person, you immediately feel like he has been your best friend all your life.
He was talking about the difference between the democratic process and a dictatorship. Funny, even as CEO of Porsche, when he was in the pit at a race like Le Mans, if he got in the way or his assistance was needed to grab a tire or a wrench, the orders were barked and by golly, he complied. He didn’t just comply. He enthusiastically grabbed the tire and delivered it portside to the car, and just in time, because there wasn’t any time to waste.
Was the action in the pit a democracy or a dictatorship?
The answer, tomorrow. What do you think? -TF
“Dictatorship can exists in groups which together may have a democratic form. More importantly dictatorship is at times essential.
The action in the pit was both, dictatorship by the person who ordered and a democratic complaince by a person senior to him. ”
The amusing part is that I believe it is possible to present the same argument by interchanging dictatorship and democracy.
Dictatorship. Like in army. Like when you go into a factory the Safety person can and will dictate you to were a helmet. Like in the army where the sentinel can stop a general.
If the president goes into operating room will have to comply with nurse orders.
Specific job places with specific processes require army-like discipline.
I agree with dictatorship and democracy. He had a choice not to comply with the orders being barked at him,(democratic). On the other hand someone in a position of authority gave an order and he felt compelled to do it(dictatorship).