Organizational Planning
By Moshe Katz
CEO
Israeli Krav International

September 29, 2015,  Königsbach, Germany

Back in the days of Moses his devoted disciples felt he was not strict enough with the people. When Joshua felt that Eldad and Medad were acting out of line he turned to Moshe/Moses and said, "Sir Moshe, lock them up". (Numbers, 11, 28)

Moses took a more lenient approach and let the matter go.

This raises the question, central power or delegation of power, absolute authority or freedom, what works best?

Hitler thought that in a moment of truth democracies would not be able to fight, only a dictatorship would work. The Soviets felt that any relaxation of power would lead to collapse. 

How to maintain control over time? How to govern effectively while preventing revolution or a people's takeover?

With IKI there are those that like the idea of "The government that governs least governs best"   Herny David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience 

While others would like to see me exercise greater control over members and keep them more in line with IKI philosophy. 

I believe in keeping control and maintaining quality while also not stepping on people's toes. I want to allow instructors a measure of independence and yet maintain the IKI way. It is a delicate balance and to be honest it does not always work.

But there is no system of government that always works. Communists become Capitalists, become Fascists become Socialists...

I like what Albert Speer wrote about his position (in the Nazi leadership) as minister of Armaments. While others were fighting a war he and his associates were jockeying for personal power.

In his book he rarely deals with issues such as the Jews, genocide, enslavement of the Slavic nations etc, but focuses on himself and his power, with ..."My injured self-esteem, the sense of having been personally offended.." (337)

What he writes about his position and his attempts to maintain his position is insightful, he wrote the following to Hitler in 1944. Germany was losing the war, Speer was finally becoming more independent and felt he was free from the "suggestive powers" of Hitler. He wrote, "I have always, even in the days when I was your architect, followed the rule of letting my assistants work independently. I grant that this principle has often brought me severe disappointments, for not everyone is worthy of such trust, and some men, after having acquired sufficient prestige, have been disloyal to me."

"Be this as it may, I will go on following this principle with iron consistency. In my view it is the only one that permits a man to govern and create. The higher the position, the more true it is." (Inside the Third Reich, page 337)

With IKI the goal is not my personal power, or "controlling markets" but simply maintaining quality, unity and the purity of our goals. But no system of governing or leadership is perfect. As with Moses there will always be those who want more freedom and those who want more control. Too free and you have nothing, too tight and you suffocate people. Finding the balance is the key, and the challange.

There will always be those who after a few ranks will feel they are fit to start and head their own Krav Maga association. Most will fail. 

There will always be those who find fault and leave, many will regret this decision but will be ashamed to return.

And all leaders, as Albert Speer expressed, will have to deal with disappointments, it is the nature of the position.

So we do our best, and try to keep our balance while maintaining our purity and yet knowing we will make mistakes.

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