Today’s business climate is much like sailing across the Atlantic. Initially when you launch, its; clear skies, joy on faces, all systems working, high level of confidence in the trek ahead. Then three days into the journey – things don’t appear to be the way you thought. Heavy storms, fear in peoples eyes, power and technology issues on the boat failing, and confidence at an all time low. Lets stop there for a moment. One of the most important members of the Team is the Captain.
Selection of the Captain prior to his voyage is critical to ensure the trip is successful, the logistics of the route and the challenges at sea. When choosing a Captain – everyone (by nature) gravitates to the Candidate that appears to have all the “Right Credentials” and after careful consideration and verification of skills is chosen.
Lets look at two candidates and see which one you would choose:
Captain “A” – Graduate of well recognized University and accomplished with 1000+ hours are Sea. Has his Licenses, Letters of Recommendation, good family, member of charity groups, personable, with good manners. No criminal record, no drinking & driving offenses, clear police record. Age 35.
Captain “B” – Finished High School and got his first and only job on a Cargo Ship as Deck Hand. Had drinking problems in his 20’s, got in fights with crew over his values, got arrested, married, divorced, went to Church but not religious man, chain smoker, with over 10,000+ hours at Sea. Rose in the ranks to Captain of a Merchant Marine at age 55 and feels he can navigate and chart any boat in an condition at any time with any crew. Was also charged with negligence when his ship navigated off course by a 2nd Mate, while he was below deck. He saved the vessel, but was disciplined for his crew and fined with civil charges.
Here is the moral dilemma? Who do you choose as your Captain?
Logic would be to hire the “new & unblemished” Captain that has a safe record but limited crisis management and set voyage.
Experience would be to hire the “tried & tested” Captain that has seen it all and rely on someone that can manage “life at sea”.
This is the dilemma in life and business. How do you make a decision on leadership when given these type of choices? A high percentage of people in society like to play it SAFE and will go with the profile of the safe Candidate rather than hire the person with more EXPERIENCE that has seen the difficulty and challenge and can navigate through those uncharted waters. This is not always an easy matter, with respects to who is Right Vs. Wrong. It is a combination of things.
1. People by nature – don’t want to be embarrassed and or appear to take a risk on anything that could be considered“politically incorrect”. That is one reason why our Penal System of Incarceration and Rehabilitation will never work. In the eyes of the Public “Once a Criminal — Always a Criminal.” That could be correct – because if you give a man/woman NO hope, incentive, opportunity, encouragement, job, status, role or chance — what do you expect them to do. They come out trying and wanting to be accepted and remorse for their crimes – but unfortunately society is not forgiving and the cycle repeats itself with the exception of the 1%.
2. Society likes its “comfort zone”. By nature – most people fight change and when they hear of something radical and or against the “grain” they will fight it or reject it. Case in point. On Line Shopping. Before the world has come to be a high user of on-line shopping – many people said I would NEVER give my personal information and credit card information to some Web Site with the hope something could go wrong. Another example is the way we travel. Several years ago two company;s that many people NEVER thought would make were Air B&B and UBER. The Hotel Industry laughed at the Air B&B Model saying who in their right mind would choose a House or Apartment over a Hotel? Well Air B&B is worth over a Billion and many Hotels are loosing business. Same for UBER, the Taxi and Limo business said – what a JOKE — well the rest is not so funny as UBER is worth over a Billion and most City Cab’s are running out of “gas”.
3. Leadership is not about being loved and or liked. Its about leading and asking those in the organization – if you believe in the cause and you believe in the leadership then get on Board. A famous line that Industry Icon Ted Turner was quoted as saying regarding leadership , “Lead, Follow or get the hell out of the way.” True leaders that have taken the selfless and courageous role to lead an organization must understand that this is a lonely position with many factors going against that person. From internal sabotage to corporate espionage, the factors are both in front of and behind a leader so they appear to need eyes in the back of their head as they forge forward. There is always “danger” lurking from litigation, charges of improper business, management and ethics challenges, financing and financial controls all the way to vision of the future, preaching the brand of the Company and instilling confidence when the route seems dark, bleak and unknown.
So what will you do – when you are faced with the moral dilemma on who to choose. Will you go “tried and tested” or “new and unblemished”?
CJ Comu
CJ Comu is a 30 year veteran of hand to hand combat in Corporate America and has conducted business in 12 countries.
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