Leadership in Action: Issues and Observations—Deference is an Undervalued Aspect of leadership

GAP OF INTENT

The reasons for the situation in Alaska are complex, but one thing in particular deserves attention: the belief of the water and sanitation service providers that they are doing everything they can within the intent of the laws, regulations, and policies that apply to them, even though they may be falling short. Increasingly what you find in organizations is that somewhere between intent and mission rests the plight of the underserved. It is in this gap of intent between the responsibilities of law, regulation, and policy and the obligation of mission that the substantive work of organizations to assist the underserved largely resides.

Consider a related example. The mission of the agencies tasked to implement the federal Safe Drinking ...