The curse of Competency ???

The Black curtain is looming ever larger and larger!!!

i was was extremely puzzled and saddened over the last week on the bureaucracy. The lack of empathy and apathy.

i thought i must be alone in this phenomenon. Then...

Today in Today Newspaper carries an article: The Curse of Competency
by CHITRA RAJARAM, Deputy Editorial Director.

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/247807.asp

It touch on the blind Mexican ambassador to Singapore in a recent interview.

"Mr Juan Jose Gomez-Camacho could not have analysed us better. The problem is that we do not want to or know how to deal with the exceptional or unknown. We tend to view everything as black and white while other mature societies can acknowledge and deal with various shades of grey."

It again touch on some of the rigidities of the system.

"the problems arise at the implementation level, where educationists and administrators take on a hard-and-fast stance on following the rules. It translates to a lack of flexibility, non-shifting boundaries and, sometimes, a lack of empathy."

In my present series dealing with the NAC, i have discovered that it may not be just be at the implementation level but further up on the leadership. Refer: http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/singapore-has-good-reasons-in-promoting_2406.html

"These are highly competent people who form the social network of the system, but they are so "rigidised" and caught up with the competency of the system that they cannot see beyond that.
So, while we take great pride in our systems, I am afraid we do not have the same world-class mindsets to resonate with our world-class status."

"Renowned author Jim Collins calls this "the curse of competency".

In his book, Good to Great, he explained that companies need to transcend this curse to go from good to great. He said: "The good-to-great companies understood that doing what you are good at will only make you good; focusing solely on what you can potentially do better than any other organisation is the only path to greatness."

He was talking about companies making the leap. I don't see why our society cannot take a leaf from his book, "transcend the curse of competency" and make that leap."

Can we??

Some years back, i heard a Veteran Cultural Medallion lamenting over his contemplation of going outstation abroad [for 1-2-3 years]. He feared losing his many possessions, including his car. he worried that when he return he may not have a place/studio to work and he may not afford the new COE for his car!

There must be many more of such thoughts.

i have taken the leap to go beyond this shore. It is uneasy. Many times more arduous and burdensome than i have imagined. i am willing to endure.

However, while i am battling abroad, back home, my base camp is been demolished - by the very institution that propagate to support the arts!!!

"Perhaps I am wrong to come to China to build a 'second wing' advocate by your Government in the late 80's/ early 90's." Refer:http://tankwankliang.blogspot.com/2008/04/singapore-has-good-reasons-in-promoting_5868.html