The Unrequested Explanation
The inclination to explanation is an indication of low SSH status
If you have ever had a conversation with an IT guy, or a tech-proficient man who has helped you with your phone, your TV, or your computer operating system, you have almost certainly been subjected to the Unrequested Explanation. And if you work with Deltas or Gammas, you have definitely been subjected to many Unrequested Explanations, quite possibly in the last week.
As I have repeatedly stated here on Sigma Game, it is not my purpose to address the How or the Why of human action, merely the What. Observation, Identification, and Anticipation are the limited objectives here, which you should note omits Comprehension, Explanation, Justification, and Rationalization.
I am not interested in How a man does something, or Why he does it, I am interested in being able to know What he is going to do before he does it.
That being said, I should also point out that there is nothing wrong with discussions of the How and the Why in the comments, so long as the commenters understand that their opinions on these aspects of human behavior are not definitive, possess absolutely no authority, and are intrinsically irrelevant with regards to the primary purposes of this site.
Now, to return to the topic, think about the last time you were given orders by an Alpha. Did he offer an explanation as to why he was giving you the order or what the basis of his decision to do so was? Did he even offer any explanation as to how you should follow the order? And if asked for an explanation, did he provide one cheerfully and in expansive detail, or did he react with some amount of annoyance or anger in telling you to “just get on with it” or “go do what you’re told” or “because I said so”?
Authority not only does not brook ready explanation of itself, it cannot offer regular explanations or even permit very many demands for explanation for several practical reasons.
The thought processes have usually taken place prior. The Alpha may not even recall all of the various possibilities or alternatives that were previously considered before the final decision was taken.
Privileged information. The Alpha often has information that is not available to his subordinates, and sometimes is even in possession of information that cannot be disclosed.
Broader perspective. Things that don’t make any sense from a detailed perspective often do from the wider strategic perspective of the Alpha.
Limited scope. The Alpha should not be delving into the details of any one particular element of a project unless there is a serious problem that is harming the operation of the organization that needs to be identified and eliminated. Constantly delving into the details is micromanagement, and a micromanaging Alpha is the kiss of death to any organization.
Limited time. Being responsible for all of the various projects necessarily prevents the Alpha from being able to address each of them, and understand all of the relevant details of each of them, to the extent that those responsible for executing the projects are.
Here is a practical example of the latter. As a publisher, I oversee the publication of a wide range of different types of books. This includes ebooks, audiobooks, hardcovers, paperbacks, print comics, digital comics, and deluxe leather editions. While I do need to get my hands dirty from time to time in resolving various problems and bottlenecks, when things are operating smoothly, I don’t need to know anything at all about the production details.
One of my constant headaches is the desire of some of the production people to not only tell me everything that they are doing, but even worse, to share with me, in great detail, the thought processes involved in order to justify the decisions behind their actions. I finally got one audiobook producer to shut up and stop trying to explain the minute details of things like why he chose one level of bitrate quality versus another on a specific audiobook by subjecting him to an excruciating lecture on how the production editor and I had determined the precise measurement of the side margins utilized in our most recent leather book.
The sudden realization of a) how little he cared about that, b) the total irrelevance to his own responsibilities, and c) how his explanations sounded to me were sufficient to finally cure him of his need to constantly explain his every act and decision to me.
I’m assuming you’re competent. So just do it right and tell me when it’s done.
In general, if you wishes to improve your perceived SSH position, never offer to explain your actions or decisions unless an explanation of one is specifically requested. Definitely don’t attempt to explain any of your thought processes or motivations without being asked for them; this includes the preemptive “in case anyone wants to know” explanation that is knowingly unrequested, but nevertheless proffered under the guise of "being helpful”.
TL;DR: STOP HELPING!
To a certain extent, one can sometimes even estimate an explainer’s SSH position by the nature of the explanation - or, as the case may be, non-explanation - being provided.
BRAVO: the Alpha/authority/law said so.
DELTA: this is what I did and this is why it was the best way to do it.
GAMMA: this is why what I did is justifiable, and here are all of my thought processes along the way that prove why what I did was justifiable.
On a tangential note, we can probably even take the concept a bit further.
ALPHA: Because I said so!
SIGMA: Why are you asking me to tell you how to do your job?
OMEGA: Nobody told me I was supposed to do that.
WOMAN: It’s not my fault!
I had to explain this to someone recently when discussing leadership. They were of the opinion that a leader should "lead by example, and be willing to do everything and know everything that all their subordinates do."
I promptly told him that's freaking nuts and used the following. A major of a city doesn't need to know how the sewer runs or go and show the men how to do their job. At most, he needs to know enough how to hire someone capable and talk to them about what he needs done, to keep the sewer system running. Do that, tell them what you need and want done, walk away, and check in as you think is needed. Trust them, and verify on reasonable time schedules.
And, as always, keep it flowing downhill.
The SSH gamma definition was particularly helpful in crystallizing my understanding of the actions of certain individuals.
There's also the reverse side of the explaining coin: It has become much easier to recognize the difference between a Delta question and a Gamma challenge usually posed as a question. The craftier gamma hides this better.
When in my former managerial role, I looked for the tone and premise of questions from subordinates. The framing of the question as well. "So what you're saying..."
The Delta honest question gets a straight answer. The gammas I dealt with were not asking the question to get a straight answer, they (appeared) to be asking it so as to create a dynamic where they challenge and I justify. Innocent and well-intentioned managers can be lured into this trap by virtue of their own assumption that everyone is as direct and honest as they might be.
When dealing with the gamma challenge, I would usually respond by questioning their basis or authority for asking. Or asking them to justify their need for a "just simple answer".
In a *FEW* cases, I said something like "To be clear, the decisions have been made and are not open to modification. If you would like to understand more, I would be willing to spend some time with you helping you understand what we are doing."
This only works if you sense that you can use this to reaffirm authority when dealing with gamma-lite. The heavier cases usually seem to be looking to spark a debate, and it is risky to give them an elevated sense of authority.
The honest question <---> veiled challenge is a scale, not binary and requires some emotional IQ to draw out.
Maybe its all a love of talk - If the gamma switches between explaining himself and trying to get you to do the same. Too bad we can't harness it like the Bistromath thing from Hitchhiker's Guide.
There's a picture of hell... A flaming cave full of gammas explaining how you got there.