How to get out of our own way

I've grown very comfortable with driving around roundabouts. It actually didn't take long at all. I often think about the parallels between driving and life, or driving and business. My buddy Nimmy recently wrote some of them so I don't need to recreate those of course (http://nirmala-km.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/driving-and-life-13-metaphors.html?m=1). I do have many more that I'd add to the list and one of them is "get out of own own way".

The beauty of the roundabout is that it handles traffic as it arrives. It rarely uses any electricity for street lights and it barely needs signs. On one hand it's a bit of wasted space in the middle, but really, it's often beautiful landscaping or even just nice simple green grass reminding you to take a deep breath.

Contrast the roundabout with the traffic signal. You know, the 4-12 traffic signals needed at every single intersection, not to mention all the secret hardware nearby to control those lights. Or the confusing, wait for me, I'll go, no you go, I got here first, my car is faster, stop sign. 

I think we often think that more control, more direction, more structure is better. Just look at airport security as another example. We over analyze the problem, over engineer the solution and the result is expensive, frustrating, inefficiencies. 

I was reading a great book recently that said, actually it's not the leaders that make the employees, it's the employees that make the leader. It's not the parents that guide the kids, it's the kids that guide the parents. It's not the teachers that teach the students, it's the students that teach the teachers. It's not speaking that creates listening, it's listening that creates speaking.

I'm not trying to sound anti-establishment, or oblivious to group dynamics, or even unaware of good intentions to make things better. I think I'm simply saying that maybe we should consider spending more time understanding the true problems at hand, and consider many more possible solutions. Roundabouts dynamically handle traffic as it arrives without any unnecessary stopping. On a grand scale that keeps everything moving as efficiently as it can. How many times have you come to a stop at a red light when no one else was around, wondering why you're waiting? How many times have you had to ask for permission at work, or wait for a decision/approval and wondered if you're empowered?  Google "wirearchies" and "org network analysis" and "value network analysis" and "expertise location" and "talent markets" for potential new approaches to get out of our own way in organizations.