U turn if you want to .....

So, over thirty years ago, on 10th October 1980, Lady Thatcher, as she's now known uttered those immortal words; "to those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The Lady's not for turning".  She was referring to some discontent in the ranks about inflation policy, during some very tough times.  That one statement seems to have galvanised generations of politicians and leaders to 'stick to their guns' regardless of the pressure they get from the opposition.  Great! I say, because one of the things I really like is clear, strong leadership.  I said in my blog on 17th July last year "John Major, the grey man – couldn’t do anything and didn’t – what’s the point of a do nothing Government?".  But ......... is a U turn all bad?  I listened with interest as politicians recently took a battering from all comers for creating a 'pause for reflection' on NHS reforms and in the last few days a change of position on the defence budget.  The pundits and politicians have been chewing David Cameron's legs over these and other issues and, yes it can be seen as indecision, but it can also be seen as a more inclusive way of governing.  Why is it immediately seen a weakness when extra consultation is added in, as a consequence of significant new information or a wave of 'feedback'?  Amongst other things I currently chair a board of senior level and quite diverse directors and I'm sure if you were to ask them, they would tell you that I get very annoyed if there is an attempt to pick over the bones of a recent decision reached by the board after due consideration etc.  However, we live in a dynamic world and if things have really changed or we have learned something new, whether that's from Colleague feedback or whatever, I am always happy to encourage a review of that decision with a view to doing a  spot of 'continuous improvement'.  If that's OK for business, why isn't it OK for politics?  I don't think that everybody doing U-turns all the time, everywhere, is at all healthy (no one would have a clue what they, or anyone else was doing for a start!) but I am a bit more sympathetic to U-turns these days, it's kind of ......... adult.​