"And (End) all that RIGAMAROLE"

LEADERS CREATE IT...AND NEED OTHERS TO UNTANGLE IT

Heading into the weekends I begin thinking about my blog, The 'R' in Saturday; http://jcnsaturday.blogspot.com

Last Friday, while on this quest, and as is often the case, I pulled one of my old standards off the book shelf, one that I likely picked up for 25 cents at a garage sale; Success with Words, A guide to the American Language (Reader's Digest, 1983). A long list of academicians collaborated with its compilations.

"Rigamarole" (also; rigmarole) is the word that caught my attention. It's a word that 'boomers' heard their parents and grandparents use. Somewhat in context it simply carries the connotation of "all that extra stuff." Success with Words used an undated quote from a New York Times editorial of the time that supposedly read;

"The blunt fact is that a foreign government on American shores is preying on American citizens. And notwithstanding the niceties of diplomatic immunity, and extraterritoriality and rigamarole, the response should be equally blunt." (Emphasis, mine)

Some may wonder for a moment, as I did, if that wasn't actually written within the last week but be reminded the quote is pre-1983 and I have no idea what the issue of that day happened to be. 

Even so, I was fascinated, but had a difficult time incorporating it for use for my Saturday post. The next morning, my wife, in a typical and jovial morning mood, used the word in a most interesting way. I hadn't shared my research from the day before but, a bit astonished, I told her that I had just spent some time on that word the day before. So now you know how it got into my thought process and made its way here.

The word has a rich history of its own and while it originally meant and was used differently from what it is, if at all, today, according to the contributors of our source material, "Eventually, in the 18th century, the expression surfaced...meaning a lot of meaningless talk...later also, a sequence of pointless activities."

LEADERS AND THE RIGAMAROLE THEY CREATE

It hasn't been my experience to meet business leaders that intentionally set out to create a bunch of rigamarole, but inadvertently they do. Or, they allow it to come into being and don't recognize it until it has gripped their company. More often than not, they may sense it is thwarting certain initiatives but are unable to identify it for what it is. In reality, rigamarole is the unintended consequence of not paying attention while the foundation of it was laid and built upon.

Large company leaders seem to be plagued by this condition to a greater degree than their smaller brethren, and yet it can be far more devastating to a small to mid-market company.

CLEARING AWAY THE RIGAMAROLE

This isn't anything new or earth-shattering and for many decades consultants and efficiency experts have been working with executives and C-level management teams to cut through the rigamarole. Some of the problem, though, is that a good deal of what is already out there under the guise of best practice and clear thinking becomes nothing more than a bunch of rigamarole as well.

It is here that my experience leaves me and you with just three pieces of advice, 1.) If something isn't working quite the way you envisioned it to, you've probably got a problem with rigamarole, 2.) If you sense that could be the case, find an outside source to engage with about your concern, [could be a Share-group member, trusted business peer nearby] but without that extra set of eyes and ears you won't  get the unvarnished truth as to what it is, and 3.) Understand that whatever rigamarole you have created, or allowed to exist, it can be cleared up in short order once you admit it.

Your Direct Reports probably already know what it is, may have even contributed to it, dislike it as much as you suspect and will be more than willing to participate in the eradication of it. There really is no excuse for it.

Jim Naleid is a Life-long Entrepreneur, Change-Agent and Thought Leader, Managing Director of Naleid & Associates and Regional TEC (“The Executive Committee”) Chair leading a group of executives to become Better Leaders, Making Better Decisions with Better Results. http://www.linkedin.com/in/jimnaleid