David Blaine isn't the only high-profile American who makes us wonder whether we should embrace his effrontery or chuck eggs.On the way to that conclusion, the Guardian also gets in a few sideswipes at “American capitalism”. Nevertheless, the article does highlight the differences in style and approach between managers in the US and Britain.
The money quote for me came from Bob Kiley, London’s commissioner for transport and a native of Minneapolis.
"Americans will lose patience with individuals who don't seem to be moving aggressively to solve problems, and then they'll make changes. There's more patience in Britain. But a problem that's allowed to fester is going to be a worse problem six or 12 months later."I think Kiley’s being polite when he uses the word “patience”. In my experience, it’s not patience; it’s more a fatalistic resignation of responsibility. I wouldn’t say British managers are resistant to change; it’s just that most of the time, they don’t really want to be bothered with it.
