If we say that everyone has permission to make a difference, it is not to be understood as a request to pull through everything immediately without consulting and to act arbitrarily. It is also not meant that you blindly rely on your own initiative and in the sense of a “whistle on it! Better to ask for your excuse afterwards than ask for permission beforehand”. suchExtreme behaviors, namely both the resigned buckling before power and the complete ignoring of the wishes of others, rarely lead to a positive result in the long run. Both variants are too extreme: Either you feel helpless and powerless, or you show defiance and rebellion. One is a sign of submissiveness, the other of high spirits. In both behaviorsThe question arises: “May I do that?” on the one hand or “I don’t care if I’m allowed to do it!” on the other.
A differentiated view of permission
Our belief is that the handling of the permission should be considered in a much more differentiated way. This principle applies equally to everyday professional life and private life. There is no point in either just doing all the actions at the behest of others or deciding everything for yourself, regardless of the wishes and specifications. Instead, a conscious reflectionabout when it makes sense to ask permission, when you can give yourself permission and when you think everything is allowed.
A look at the ways of dealing with permission
A well-known book, which deals with the topics of leadership and personal development, has presented a classification of the use of permission. This can be classified in four stages, which we will explain in more detail below. The first stage describes an attitude where you generally do not have permission. That means one assumes that one is not for anyaction requires the consent of a higher authority. It is assumed that you are taking part in meetings because your own name is on the participant list, even if the event offers little added value. You wait at the red light at night, even if there is no car to be seen, and you don’t ask on the plane whether you can swap places. Even in teams, you don’t make any suggestions becauseno one specifically asked for it. In this attitude, one assumes that one is not allowed to do anything in principle without prior consent.
Dealing with permission: questions or decide for yourself?
The second stage describes the behavior in which you actively ask for permission. That means you ask others if it’s okay to do something. You ask if you should attend a meeting even though you don’t add any added value, or raise your hand in a meeting to ask a question instead of just asking it. Also asks when operating a coffee machine in the hotelpolite, if that’s okay. In this attitude, one seeks the consent of others before acting, whether at work, in everyday life or in small decisions.
Self-empowerment: Give yourself permission
The third stage describes an attitude in which one does not obtain permission from outside, but gives oneself permission if one thinks it is correct. You check an invitation to a meeting, decide on your own responsibility whether you are taking part and speak to important contacts on your own initiative. You are able to evaluate yourselfwhether an action is appropriate without waiting for the consent of others. This attitude is characterized by self-confidence and the willingness to go your own way, which others may have taken before you.
The unrestricted permission: everything is allowed
Finally, the fourth stage describes an attitude in which one basically considers everything to be allowed. It is assumed that you can basically do everything that is justifiable in the context of an ethical attitude. That means you use the coffee machine in the breakfast room because you assume it was provided for the guests and you speak to the boss his own unsolicitedopinion on decisions. Rules are applied only in the situation and one’s own judgment determines what is appropriate. In this attitude one is very self-determined, but there is a risk that one falls into selfishness or high spirits if one does not reflect on the limits.
Finding the right balance
The interesting thing about this classification is that most people in our culture commute between the second and third stages. This means they are still asking for permission, but also dare to give themselves permission. The extreme attitudes – either constantly questioning everything and not getting approval or doing everything without regard to others – are onnot effective in the long run. The attitude, which lies in the middle range between independent decision-making and situational permission, is the one that promises the most success and satisfaction. It is characterized by self-confidence, responsible action and at the same time consideration. Ultimately, the most important question is: where do you stand yourself? Are you more fainting and waitingTo instructions or have you already given yourself permission to act actively and independently? It is worth questioning your own handling of permission and, if necessary, putting the slider up a little in order to gain more self-power and to advance both yourself and the organization in which you work.
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