Conversations in Management
In
1966 Peter and Gordon charted with their novel retelling of Lady
Godiva’s story. It was just one more example of people (a cast
that ranges from chocolate makers to Dr. Seuss) cashing in on
the strange tale of this medieval philanthropist. Unlike most
subjects of legend, Lady Godiva actually existed. She was the
wife of Leofric, a wealthy 11th century English land
owner. As the story goes, Leofric had levied oppressive taxes on
the poor folks of Coventry. Responsive to the people’s
suffering, Godiva pleaded with her husband to lift the burden.
Unfortunately, Leofric was both greedy and mean-spirited. He
offered to suspend the taxes only if his wife rode through
town—shall we say—au naturel. She defiantly consented to
his terms, but out of respect, the town’s folk remained indoors
and didn’t look. Like so many stories of this genre, this one
has a happy ending. Though greedy and mean-spirited, Leofric
turned out to be a man of his word and he promptly remitted the
taxes. Of course, it never actually happened. The whole story
was concocted by a group of Benedictine monks 200 years after
lady Godiva’s death apparently to promote tourism. It must have
had some traction; because 400 years later, on May 31, 1678, the
story was popular enough to inspire a Godiva Procession
in the Coventry Fair. It’s been a regular feature ever since.
There are
many historical, literary and religious aspects of this story
that make it compelling. But its real power comes from the
simplicity of the tale itself. It’s essentially a story about
someone courageously facing down a bully. And sadly, over
nine hundred years after Lady Godiva’s famous ride, bullies are
still very much with us. Bullies are generally insecure people
who bolster their egos by humiliating, degrading or intimidating
those souls unfortunate enough to enter their line of sight. At
work, bullies can be found in the ranks of supervisors, peers
and even subordinates. Their arsenal of misery includes rumors,
gossip, yelling, profanity, stalking, pointed jokes and
pestering—just to name a few. No matter the approach, their aim
is always the same—to diminish the self-worth, dignity and
confidence of their unwilling targets. If this wasn’t bad
enough, the destructive impact of the bully extends far beyond
the individuals directly involved. The entire team is eventually
impacted as they uneasily observe the bully at work. Everyone
starts wondering, “Will I be next?” In this environment
productivity inevitably lapses and morale wilts.
Dealing
with bullies isn’t easy. Their actions are often subtle and they
rarely display their “skills” in front of the boss. That’s why
it’s important for leaders to pay close attention to the
telltale signs of bullying and to respond to any complaints
promptly. It’s important, as well, not to let bullies off the
hook with rationalizations such as, “pay no attention: that’s
just the way he is,” or, “don’t worry, she treats
everyone badly.” Remember—bullies thrive in cultures
that don’t hold folks accountable for their behavior.
Admittedly,
taking management tips from Lady Godiva seems a bit odd, but the
lessons in her quirky story are certainly worthwhile. She
reminds us that the common good should always prevail over
self-interest, that it takes courage to face down life’s bullies
and that self-sacrifice can bring about a good end. There’s
comfort, too, in the knowledge that, unlike Lady Godiva, when we
take on the bullies, we’ll at least be dressed for the occasion!
—Ebert
Read More CM in the Archives! |
Find More In The Archives!
|
