Is Big Society like delivering babies?

Are you “big picture” or “detail”? Some years ago when I was learning to deliver babies, the era we were in was one of high intervention.

We strapped up mums-to-be with wires and electrodes. One such gadget was a fetal scalp electrode, designed to monitor the baby’s heart electronically. As soon as baby’s head was making its decent, the electrode could be attached.

On one memorable occasion someone was trying to attach the electrode but baby was half way out! Of course it was entirely pointless. In a split second we could see baby and check her heart directly.

One of our tutors had starkly contrasting views to this approach of excessive monitoring. “Babies just arrive on their own”, he told us. So who was right?

Some of us are sticklers for procedure and process. Our default setting is “attention to detail”. Others are more “big picture”: “The baby’s here, no point doing that!”

Different types need each other of course. In David Cameron’s “Big Society”, those of us who are more “big picture” types think we got it straight away. The rest may be more dubious.

But if, as a leader you have cast a vision, be assured that there are those who need some structure and detail, before they can give you their vote.

Using a more flattering and less gory analogy, just imagine how they constructed High Speed One, in part tunnelling many miles under London.

Engineers, brilliant in my view, built the tunnel over 26km long with a 5mm tolerance to where they expected it to come out. It was on time and on budget too.

But someone needed to see the big picture; to see how connecting our capital to the Channel Tunnel with a fast rail link, could work, could bolster our transport corridor and could increase our economy.

As leaders we need to see big, but also to engage with the brilliance of our people, in all its detail and structure. We are nothing without them.

Is “Big Society” about seeing and believing what’s possible?

But is its delivery about understanding how others work, and how best they could work together?

One day the baby will become an adult. But she needs love, care and attention along the way.