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On Leadership: A Course in Administration


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On Leadership: A Course in Administration

 

This text exists to expand on some of the best practices for royal administrators, in order to secure a future for Balian and all countries that may desire good government. Turning a few pages back of Canonist history shows results in poor leadership that could have been rectified with just a little attention to positive practices. 

 

Our clerks, concios, syndics, and soldiers volunteer their time to serve the nation which calls for different practices of interaction over conscripted roles. The author hopes that advice here can be applied to the duana, the city commune, and our military. 

 

On Goals and Fulfillment

 

What many amateur officials fail to acknowledge is that a servant of our kingdom does not serve due to pay. Increasing pay will only be a motivator for a minority of job holders in the kingdom. We can boil down motivation to be the fulfillment gained from their role and its contribution to a realm. 

 

Fulfillment can be increased by setting goals, granting recognition, demonstrating active leadership, and delivering higher quality job roles. An important starting point is to develop goals for Balian and its specific branches. Goals need to be created to work towards and those need to be checked on consistently and institutionally. One of the great embarrassments of the past empire was the repeated failure in settling the now destroyed town named Redenford. Part of the great issue was that no goals or serious intent or proposal was drawn up to settle the region, and often those appointed to manage the estate treated the job as a retirement post, rather than a place to seek fulfillment. We must learn from such a mistake and not waste resources on projects that lack tangible and transparent benchmarks and goals.

 

Another important activity for ministries is to submit plans to the king for feedback in order to align goals across the kingdom. Accountability is important for us as we move forward with the reforms proposed in the Renovatio, which we can acknowledge as a step in setting clear goals for the kingdom around culture, literacy, and commerce. 

Our selfless subjects need to know the goals of Balian in order to align their actions with them. Having goals also allows for the goal to be completed, which then leads to a sense of achievement. Completing a project, having an end date, and seeing it achieved are important for any job.

 

On Recognition

 

When a job is completed, we get to the stage of recognition. Recognition of effort and accomplishments is important across all levels. Traditionally, the Company of Balian, our defense force, has been the sole state institution to hand out promotions and rewards through their yearly company address. I would challenge all other ministries to develop their own schedule of recognition. 

 

The king should particularly take an active role in making the servants of our kingdom feel appreciated. A small effort here can increase motivation and inspire loyalty to our kingdom. Another suggestion to inspire good administration would be an annual or biannual recognition event that would bring servants from all parts of our lands for recognition and entertainment. 

 

Recognition could also take the form of promotions in rank and gifts of royal land, items, or appointments. It is important to save these for those who have earned them and not bestow them on recently committed allies - too many times in the empire’s past, we have seen fair-weather friends be given great tracts of land or high rank, only to fail to commit to the nation’s cause in its darkest hour.

 

Official written recognition is important as well. A few examples come to mind is how other kingdoms and realms recognize the exploits of their knights. Our church also spends significant time and resources on tracking the lives of the saints and their accomplishments. Getting large recognition in an official outlet from the kingdom will be a lasting memory and show their effort leaves a mark after their retirement or departure to the Seven Skies. The Nobelissimo initiative that King Alexander spoke of at his 111 SA court is a prime example of this.

 

On Communication

 

Many realms have fallen due to inattentive kings, ministers, and councils. We look at the empire's past to see that by the end of its reign, many ministers and even its heirs had grown distant from public affairs. The royal family and the country’s duana must work to respond to their subject’s requests and communications. 

 

Some examples could be feedback on their performance, ideas for improvement of the organization, and friendly and supportive messages. It is important to both respond quickly as well as touch base regularly, even if informally, to communicate that our kingdom cares about all its subjects, ranging from its royal monarch to the humble clerk. 

 

No subject is too little or unimportant to have their ideas ignored or feedback brushed aside, and dismissing them will only lead to a sense of alienation. Many unhappy subjects may not put their full effort into the country, or worse, depart from the realm as they feel ignored or unable to influence the future of the kingdom. Exclusion, apathy, and dismissive attitudes are something to strive to eradicate from management practices in our kingdom. All leaders should bring a forward-thinking, inclusive, and positive spirit, if they wish to succeed.

 

Finally, job roles are an important aspect to focus on. Job roles should be written down for all levels so citizens know what they are getting involved in. Challenging and engaging job roles should be developed to bring the best out of our talented subjects. One of the successes of the past empire was that its cabinet was empowered in such a way that no council had been before. All of its ministers possessed three-dimensional duties that challenged and engaged them, while giving them the autonomy and trust to mentor teams to deliver robust solutions. Institutions like the Senate, the Courts, the ISA, and the Constables all emerged from such an environment.

 

Training and mentorship should be supplied in order for our servants to succeed for the success of our Balian. These roles also need autonomy to make decisions on their own and have the duana and king give them trust to execute. The worst practice for recruiting and motivating more subjects to support our realm is to abandon them when convenient. 

 

Closing Remarks

 

The author has taken up the pen as well as the chisel to lend a hand in constructing a social foundation for the servants of Balian. Let it be known that it is just as important to build a national spirit as it is to build a capital city.

 

If our commune, duana, and ministries can set goals, recognize effort and accomplishment, stay attentive, and design fulfilling roles, we can recruit and maintain a thriving body of citizen-servants. Throughout this text, I use the word servant, not as a way to point at their diminution in status to the crown but to draw attention to the humility and generosity of service to our kingdom. They serve out of goodwill, not from any threat of military force or of need to feed or house their families. 

 

The examples of failure are legion but an opportunity to be a success instead stands right in front of Balian. With this knowledge, she must seize it!

 

Guillermo Rutledge, 
Architect-in-Residence at the Royal Balianese Academy. 

 

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Ledicort taps his cane upon reading the missive, a rare smile gracing his face "Beautifully written and very true" he comments before giving it to Gaius to read @WaveLincoln

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Countess of Aquilae and Procurator, Johanne Vuiller read up on the newest piece by the Royal Balianese Academy, taking time from her busy work schedule to take a seat as she does.

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On 1/14/2023 at 11:32 AM, HIGH_FIRE said:

Ledicort taps his cane upon reading the missive, a rare smile gracing his face "Beautifully written and very true" he comments before giving it to Gaius to read @WaveLincoln

Gaius var Ruthern reads the missive attentively. His lips curl into a small smirk of curiosity and wonder. "Da. These words ring true and hold many merits." The young Baron now carefully rolled up the missive and then tied it with a string. This piece was indeed something he will look back to more than once as he continues his diligent work in the Duana. @HIGH_FIRE

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