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Let's take them on


21 March 2010

Despite being so numerous and prosperous, independent contractors remain, on the whole, isolated. This will suit some people and may be why they chose to be independents. My theme in these articles, however, is that many independents could benefit from collaborating, firstly by to use their know-how to engage decision makers and get to valuable (and high fee-earning) projects, and then continuing to build the 'independent brand' into an attractive option for getting many more things done.

At the heart of my theme is a battle that has raged through human history. In Ancient Greece, Socrates extolled individual autonomy while Plato advocated dividing society into those qualified to govern and those fit only to be governed. In business, the issue was made famous by Douglas McGregor in The Human Side of Enterprise published in 1960, in which he labelled management values as Theory X or Theory Y. (Theory X says you can't trust workers, you tell them exactly what to do and stand over them if you want them to work. Theory Y says you can trust workers, they want to do a good job and if you involve them and treat them decently, they will produce wonders). Fifty years of evidence come down heavily on the side of Theory Y. But it must be hard stuff to research because language has been so tortured, in the best Orwellian tradition, that every Theory X dictator uses the honeyed phrasing of Theory Y.

I'm sure there are great places to work in Australia, but a visitor can hardly get out of the airport without sensing a Theory X culture, and it is nowhere more manifest than in employment, where management appears to have abdicated employing people, leaving the job to HR, which has passed it on to recruiters who largely leave it to computers. There have to be decision makers in high places who hunger for the chance of real conversation with independent minds who care about the business. Independents are Australia's great practitioners of Theory Y---just the people to satisfy this hunger.

The benefits for independents that flow from such engagement are:
  • Personal Development---experience developing and selling concrete proposals
  • More money---through access to higher value project which mean higher fees
  • Greater control of their life---bigger teams mean the load shared more widely
  • Access to new tasks, e.g. engaging with senior levels, bringing investors on board
And in due course:
  • Political recognition as a powerhouse of innovation in the economy
  • Political recognition as innovators in employment, education and national productivity
I have tried to describe concrete examples in previous articles, but no description of mine can match the experience of getting involved in the work. I would propose that these matters be opened up for discussion in meetings for which anyone interested is invited to register. I would suggest these be planned as 1-day events, but I would like to hear other views on this. Of course, I would also be delighted to hear any comments you may have on these articles. Thank you for the attention you have given to them.

What do you think about Dick's thoughts on this issue? If you would like to contribute your own thoughts, please e-mail your contribution to us at: dickdavies@contractworld.com.au.