This One Just Became a Leadership Conversation

[prettycoolguy]

This is Spartan One-One-Seven broadcasting on an unknown communications array.

[ A few members of the team have seen the Master Chief around, but he hasn't made major contact before now. For most of the group, it's the first time they've seen this scarred face. And for one of them, it's far from the first. ]

I understand that this is a different world than the one I come from, and we have no way to return until we accomplish an... objective.

[ An objective that they all have only vaguely heard about from a weird hallucination. He doesn't have to say that part. They already know. ]

This being the case, I'm offering my skills.

I have significant experience leading teams on a variety of ops. I can work longterm on terrain like this. You can count on me in a fight.

But first of all, I do need to know who's in charge of this outfit.

[ Bless his entire heart. ]

Comments

[the_hit_list]

I suggested a council, not a singular boss, and I’m only one person. My suggestion alone carries no weight: it’s a suggestion.

I think it’s preferable to anarchy, but again, just one kid’s opinion.

[wheyoftheadept]

Anarchy's pretty feasible in a group this small, actually. Think we're just under the upper limit for it.

[the_hit_list]

Only as long as the anarchists agree to share resources and work together. Whether you want to call it something official or not, there's going to be a groupthink going on. There'll be a vague social pressure to chip in, pull your weight, et cetera. Pretending that it's genuine anarchy is inefficient.

[wheyoftheadept]

I think we're working under different definitions of anarchy, here.

At least two Dark Lords are trying to kill us. That's a pretty weighty incentive to share resources an' work together. No one here needs a council of elders in funny hats tellin' 'em they should, least as far as I can see.

An' I can't help notice that you're not answering the question. What happens when someone doesn't want to obey your council? What answer do you have for people who just ain't gonna swear allegiance t'something like that? 'Cause I can tell you one thing - you wanna go make a little elite group of people that get to decide things on everyone's behalf, you're either gonna have to accept I'm not under your jurisdiction or force me to go along.

[there. now that's out in the open.]

[the_hit_list]

If you want to be an enclave of your own within the camp, I don't think anyone should stop you or force you to go along. Or force you to leave, if that's even possible.

But I don't believe in negotiating until every last person is fully on board with an idea, especially when we don't know each other or have any real reason to trust each other. Judging by the various reactions to Spartan One-One-Seven's original question of who's in charge, getting a unanimous vote is either impossible or will take the biggest rock tumbler the world has ever seen, to grind everyone down to agreement.

[wheyoftheadept]

So if no one has to actually do what your council says, why does it need to be there?

[the_hit_list]

It's not my council. I wasn't suggesting I be on the council, and I don't even know if they're all agreeable to the idea.

It needs to be there for the people who can't make survivalist decisions. The people who can't defend themselves when floating ninja come after them. Not everyone is ready to fall through some sort of dream hole and wake up in the woods in the Middle Ages. Maybe you can, and maybe the gravelly guy can, but not. everyone. can. That's why I'm not on the Anarchy Boat. I want something set to look after everyone's best interest, rather than to just trust that the right person will notice if someone falls behind. I wouldn't be here if people didn't notice me falling behind.

[wheyoftheadept]

I'm not saying we don't look out for each other. I'm saying that for a lot of damn good reasons, I don't want a little group of people I might not even know making decisions on my behalf, or anyone else's. There's a whole middle ground between formal systems of leadership and everyone bein' out for themselves, fuck the other guy.

I don't think anyone actually disagrees that we need to get organized. But we don't need a council to do it, we don't need leaders, we just need to all talk to each other. Get an inventory going like what Nog's trying, figure out what we need and how to get it, establish a communal supply cache. Get a sense for who can do what an' start them teachin' those who can't. Sort of like what that other dude said - rotating schedules, that kinda thing. But those are all things you don't need a PIC for. Just a little common sense and communication.

Not t'mention there's a fair number of folk who haven't even introduced themselves yet because they're too scared or confused or paranoid t'leave the edges. They need to get a say, too; part 'a why I came in so hot this looked a damn lot like a handful of busbodies trynna decide how we were gonna structure ourselves without asking anyone else, or inviting 'em in on the conversation.

[the_hit_list]

This is an open conversation. People are absolutely welcome to have a say - I'm one person. I don't get to unilaterally decide if there's a leadership structure and who's on it. I made a suggestion, make your own.

I will point out that - that inventory organizing Nog's doing? Someone suggesting a rotating schedule? Sure sounds like the sort of roles you'd see on a council, so maybe it's just the word you're against.

[wheyoftheadept]

The difference is, Nog asked for inventory. An' he's not saying "now I'm in charge of the inventory and I get to make the inventory rules." He's just makin' a list anyone can look at.

An' if you don't see how that's different, then we should sleep on this, 'cause I can't figure how to explain it yet.