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A tale of two rivers

I was lucky enough to be out walking twice this week; the first time around Petworth, in West Sussex, and today in New Alresford in Hampshire.  South of Petworth we had to cross the River Rother, beautiful, but thick with mud and cloudy.  I love rivers of every colour and complexion but it hardly looked inviting.  Today, we walked along the River Arle, a typical Hampshire chalk and gravel stream.  It ran fast and shallow.  One could see the fish, perch, trout and pike in it.; I can’t tell you how beautiful it was or how uplifting I found it just to walk beside it.  The main difference between these two rivers is really just a bit of mud in suspension but oh what a difference!

It may seem a bit of jump, but this put me in mind of what is going on in a social network that I belong to. A popular and active member has been suspended by the management for who-knows-what transgression.  There has been a huge upwelling of support and sympathy for them and yet the management has yet to respond or justify their actions.  It puts me in mind of the muddy river. 

I think that when we are dealing with others it is so much better when our actions / decisions are transparent and clear.  That way, even if others might not agree, at least they can understand them.  In business, it is essential for those in positions of power to be as open as possible.  They might not have to explain their actions, but if they choose not to, there are consequences.  They may be the leaders, but we choose who we follow….

“There is no persuasiveness more effectual than the transparency of a single heart, of a sincere life.”  Joseph B. Lightfoot

“Clarity, clarity, surely clarity is the Most beautiful thing in the world, A limited, limiting clarity I have not and never did have any Motive of poetry But to achieve clarity.”   George Oppen

 

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This entry was posted on Saturday, March 7th, 2009 at 16:40 and is filed under Business Change, Communication, Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “A tale of two rivers”

  1. Sarah Arrow says:
    7 March , 2009 at 17:00

    Transparency in business is always the best option I my opinion. Muddying the waters makes people wonder what is trying to be hidden, even if nothing is.

    I worked for two similar companies in 2002 /2003 both experienced fraud. One denied it, denied access to the external auditors and forbade their staff to mention it. The second company were open, transparent but visibly hurt by it. All their staff co-operated with the investigation and became strong for their company who updated them daily on the matter. At the end of the investigation the second company were exonerated and the staff threw a party.

    The first company lost a contract worth £2.5 million and many staff left that company and went to work for the second company where the honesty and commitment were transparent. Unlike the river, it flowed both ways. They are back and running but it took 6 years to recover.

  2. richardderwentcooke says:
    7 March , 2009 at 17:47

    Thanks for a great real-life illustration of the power and importance of this stuff Sarah

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