Democracy has its place. But that place definitely isn't the world of business...

I've been thinking a lot about democracy this week (I'm guessing I'm probably not the only one, given the wall-to-wall Election coverage). Although this isn't exactly the first chance I've had to vote, it's the first time I've felt like my vote might actually make a difference to the final outcome - and that has made me think a bit more about the whole process.

Now don't get me wrong. Democracy is, generally speaking, A Good Thing. I am unquestionably glad that I don't live under an oppressive dictatorship, and can vote for any idiot I like to run the country. I also appreciate the sacrifice of those who have fought for democracy, and so on and so forth. But observing democracy in action, particularly during the last week, I've concluded two main things.

One, it's a licence for nutters to talk rubbish. I know that to some extent this is the price you pay; that you've got to take the rough with the smooth etc etc etc. But elections really bring the zealots out of the closet, and it's even worse now that the internet provides them with the perfect platform to share their ill-considered views with the world. Looking at some of the stuff online this week, and the sheer viciousness of some of the 'debate', I can't help feeling that we'd be better off if some of these people were a bit more oppressed.

Second, it's not exactly very efficient, is it? By the looks of it we can't even run elections these days, let alone use them as a basis for sensible government. If it turns out to be a hung parliament, as looks increasingly likely (I can't face staying up to watch it tonight, some of us have work to do on Friday), that sounds to me like a recipe for a disaster. Imagine if you tried to run a business by picking three people with completely different views on strategy, and then putting them in a room to agree on how to do things. You'd never get anything done. And I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens here too.

So while I've been encouraging my team to exercise their democratic right this week, I hope they get it out of their system by Monday. Because when it comes to business, different rules apply. A democratic electoral system is all well and good (albeit this Election hasn't been a great example). But if they disagree with my decisions at work, I don't want them thinking that they get to throw me out. Nor do I want them thinking that they get a say in every decision I make (consultation processes are one thing; decision-making by committee is quite another). In fact, when it comes to business, I can't help feeling enlightened despotism is a much better bet than democracy.