What is a paradox?
A paradox is a statement that apparently contradicts itself and yet might be true (or wrong at the same time).
This is a paradox! 
As we discuss the leadership skill of PTO we have an interesting paradox or contradiction …
PARADOX: On the one hand we are promoting and teaching thinking skills and individual sovereignty and the right of individuals to think for themselves. On the other hand, we have a leadership program which teaches the leadership skill of “Peel The Orange”, which is the skill of being able to carry out appropriate instructions, without question, on command.
So, are you ready for your first orange?
DFQ #14
Think carefully and demonstrate your clearest thinking skills to peel this orange:
Resolve the PTO paradox in 111 words.
Peel the orange is effective when clearly defined instructions and
methods are required to be followed to achieve expected results
promptly.
However some tasks will require innovative thinking and problem
solving in order to achieve effective results.
If the leader is skilled in definining a task then there will be no paradox as staff will know whether to PTO or demonstrate inovative
thinking.
As the situation requires, both following instructions and thinking for yourself can be applied. It is a matter of knowing which applies in what situation.
If there is a clear instruction and a defined goal, then Peel The Orange is useful. The result will be the same and consistent outcome everytime as the thinking is within a pre-defined guideline.
If the situation requires finding the best solution, then individual thinking skills are required, with varied and creative ways to find solutions, resulting in potentially multiple outcomes and selecting the best one.
On the one hand we are taught to think for ourselves and taught new thinking skills to widen our thought processes and open up our minds.
Peel the orange leadership program promotes in the business sector PPR, will gain survival and making profits, in education study well and pass the exam.In sport perform well and win.PRR can be used effectively well, we are allowed to think for ourselves and also contribute to achieving new BVS.
Where as in the military – commands from the Commander in chief are followed strictly without agrument or alteration in all facets of training- the importance being for example in “combat it would be a matter of life or death.”
Therefore both methods are used in slightly different ways, there really is not a paradox….
We can still think for ourselves so long as it is within the defined boundaries.
PTO just brings those boundaries more into focused result driven outcomes – so at the end of the day we do and achieve with out question.
We must learn how to follow before learning to Lead.
Trusting our leaders is of utmost importance.
Following with understanding is the Key.
Leaders may fail from time to time , but they will have to
answer for their actions ,to their leaders.
As a Leader or follower , one must run the race to the end.
It is easily understood that in certain environments how important Peel the Orange is, one needs to be able to carry out, or request that the required instructions be carried out appropriately, without question and on command, so that the one path can be followed to reach the desired outcome or competition of required task. On the other hand using individual thinking skills there are many paths followed to achieve the same required outcome. The reviewing of all the different paths taken achieve these outcomes allows us to find the one path reach to reach the best possible outcome, or a CVS to BVS solution.
Resolving the PTO paradox in one hundred and eleven words is straightforward. So long as you use one hundred and eleven words to resolve the paradox you have peeled the orange in this example. The way to resolve the paradox is to apply thinking skills and search for better methods which allow this end. There is no restriction on searching for the best method either before or during the process so long as you acheive the end result. You can spend time planning how to go about the task prior to embarkation or you can try-storm – learning by trial and error on the journey. In this manner the paradox is resolved.
PTO in a civilian application can never be fully exploited.In a military situation PTO is far easier to apply, as , in the Military with the ranking structure you can tell and be told.In civilian life this does not work, you must ask and be asked.PTO is the most effective method of training and operating I have ever experienced because in the Military there are ramifications which can be life threatening if you do not follow PTO. People who have never experienced military life cannot understand the comradeship that comes from everyone following PTO.
PTO does not prevent you from thinking and suggesting.
Being that Peel The Orange is suitable when the task is a repetitive one (with parameters that do not change – ever), it would be clear to the person carrying out the task that a certain process need to be followed, in a particular way etc. It would, therefore, be apparent when to use the PTO. New or varied tasks would require that we apply and promote teaching and thinking skills. Though the paradox exists, out way of thinking should allow us to distinguish whether PTO should be applied.
Thinking for yourself and blindly following instruction are both useful skills, which can be applied as the situation demands. The real skill is in knowing when to apply each, or, as a leader, when your staff should. For this reason, I’m not sure that there really is a paradox or contradiction. I man going to exercise the “thinking for yourself” bit and say that the situation didn’t require the full 111 words.