One of the great British Politician died on 14 March – Tony Benn.

I have generally avoided Politics and Religion here on this blog – but I read something last week from Benn which appealed to me.

Benn was quoted as saying,

In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person – Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates – ask them five questions:

1. What power have you got?
2. Where did you get it from?
3. In whose interests do you exercise it?
4. To whom are you accountable?
5. And how can we get rid of you?

If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.

I think this is rather clever and can be applied to most situations – including companies…