--- title: The Tyranny of the Immediate and The Importance of Reflection and Relationship description: Liz Weaver discusses a recent blog about performance innovation, discussing how the tyranny of the immediate has an impact on relationships within the workforce image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/The_Latest/pocket-watches-436567_1920.jpg --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # The Tyranny of the Immediate and The Importance of Reflection and Relationship Posted on April 1, 2017 [By Liz Weaver](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/liz-weaver) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) There is a big tension in community change efforts.  There is the tyranny of the immediate - hunting for quick wins, trying to move the agenda forward and being aware of the multiple demands on participant time.  With such a focus on the immediate, we sacrifice the building of relationships and reflection to meet the demands of the short term and time factors. A [recent blog](http://www.performance-innovation.com/blog/tyranny-of-the-immediate-vs.-organizational-excellence) about performance innovation discusses how the *tyranny of the immediate* has an impact on relationships within the workforce:  At first blush the workforce appears to be highly engaged with all hands on deck responding to the crisis. But in reality Tyranny of the Immediate produces only short-term or faux engagement, then it’s back to business as usual, waiting for the next crisis. This can produce an adrenalin rush for managers and give a misleading sense of accomplishment. It can become addictive and move managers from being a firefighter to becoming a pyromaniac; *enjoying the fire*.   *Source:  [http://www.performance-innovation.com/blog/tyranny-of-the-immediate-vs.-organizational-excellence](http://www.performance-innovation.com/blog/tyranny-of-the-immediate-vs.-organizational-excellence)* ![pocket-watches-436567_1920.jpg](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/The_Latest/pocket-watches-436567_1920.jpg?width=192&name=pocket-watches-436567_1920.jpg)The author goes on to state that fighting a short term crisis makes it much more difficult to get the team refocused on the longer term objective and often, the longer term objective loses momentum and cache.  Focusing on the tyranny of the immediate also hampers the building of relationship and trust.  So how does this apply to community change efforts?  The issues often tackled by community change efforts are complex and have formed over time, sometimes multiple generations.  To truly understand the complexity of the problem or issue, we have to engage with each other, look at the data and research, immerse ourselves and our partners in conversation.  How can we balance product (the immediate) and process (the relationship and reflection)?  John Kania, Managing Director of FSG and author of multiple articles about collective impact has mused that ‘the process is as important as the product’.  Indeed, in the resource [Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact](http://www.fsg.org/publications/guide-evaluating-collective-impact), the first set of measures evaluate collective impact capacity (our connection to the issue, our relationships, our understanding of data) and the overall approach calls for strategic learning to be embedded in evaluation.  So, slow down.  Be strategic yes, but also be observant, relationship driven and practice patience.  Your community change work will benefit as a result. Topics: [Community Engagement](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-engagement), [Collective Impact](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/collective-impact), [Systems Change](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/systems-change) ![Liz Weaver](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Website_Author_Liz_Weaver.jpg) ### By [Liz Weaver](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/liz-weaver) Liz Weaver is passionate about the power and potential of communities to create impact on complex issues. She is Tamarack’s former Co-CEO and Director of the Learning Centre, where she provided strategic leadership and led key learning initiatives, including collective impact capacity-building services for the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Liz is one of Tamarack’s highly regarded trainers and has developed and delivered curriculum on collaborative governance, leadership, collective impact, community innovation, influencing policy change, and social media for impact. ## Related Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Davos.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/how-to-connect-a-visit-to-davos-prompts-questions-and-connections?hsLang=en-us) #### [How to connect: A visit to Davos prompts questions and connections](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/how-to-connect-a-visit-to-davos-prompts-questions-and-connections?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Community-driven-pathways-blog-post-staff-office-widescreen.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/five-community-driven-pathways-for-systems-change?hsLang=en-us) #### [Five Community-Driven Pathways for Systems Change](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/five-community-driven-pathways-for-systems-change?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/campfire-tegan-mierle-widescreen.jpg)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/putting-residents-and-community-at-the-heart-of-climate-action?hsLang=en-us) #### [Putting residents and community at the heart of climate action](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/putting-residents-and-community-at-the-heart-of-climate-action?hsLang=en-us) [![BACK TO THE LATEST](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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