N E W S & V I E W S • A P R I L 2 0 2 4 25 I promise you that the stuff I’m smoking, as I write this, is not all that strong! I actually mean what I say. None of us have jobs. We have responsibilities. Think a little about that statement as you consider all the noises that surround us daily. Service providers (not only state providers but private ones as well) disappoint us frequently. Current service delivery is often driven by individuals who only think about the job and not the responsibility that that job holds. The municipal worker who half fills a hole but still gets paid for the job is an example of this. Had that worker been paid for the responsibility of completing the job properly and according to standard, the outcome would have been totally different. In our own forest industry, is it just me or are there some signs of a declining sense of responsibility? I think it behests us all to become more aware of these signals and to change the course from mediocrity to responsibility as soon as possible. Seeing the condition of some of the state and municipal plantations across the country makes me want to despair. What happened to the once proud ethic of state forestry? Where has the responsibility gone? The politicians and officials as well as private citizens who have a job but do not embrace the responsibility that their job entails are anathema to the well-being and development of individuals and the nation. It is up to us to recognise these individuals and to contribute actively towards amending their mediocre narrative to positive value adding actions. In my opinion, there has sadly been an everincreasing global shift in sentiment away from individual responsibility towards a more generic all-encompassing proforma driven approach to work and outcomes. Perhaps it is due to the proliferation of social media and instant communication, but I certainly do see that people do not think or consider matters for themselves nearly as hard as they ought. Decisions and actions are guided by influencers and proformas and elaborate pre-determined work protocols. Encyclopedic vehicle manuals literally think for the vehicle owner. Forestry operations are governed by extensive checklists and self-audit forms. Health and Safety of employees has literally become a proforma driven science. Whilst well considered proformas are commendable and certainly do have a place, I despair at the fact that people (read Employees) appear to be gradually losing their sense of responsibility. They are losing their gusto and enthusiasm towards achieving particular (complete) outcomes. They are resigned to having jobs and not responsibilities. They are performing just enough to get work off their desk but without innovation and energy. The stimuli surrounding us (poor leadership, corruption, lack of ethic, et al) all contribute towards this lack of gusto. I sincerely doubt that there is a quick fix to this malaise but those who do sense the onset of mediocrity within their work and social circles (and there are many of us that do) should feel obligated to contribute towards turning the tide. People need to have jobs to survive but said in the same breath, the ability to embrace the responsibilities of that job or profession is a scarce attribute that will really make that job holder stand out and be counted. So, who would have thought that a daily walk with two excitable mutts would evoke thoughts about responsibilities? I’m glad that it has though, as the insights gleaned from the process will hopefully encourage more people out there to become aware and to encourage enthusiasm and particularly responsibility in all with whom they have dealings. Thats all for now, my dogs are barking!
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