History is fascinating because you and I are “predictably irrational.” In the next rinse of my worldview you can bet that this thought is going to be there. The more that I study humankind, the more convinced I am of this fact. We are not the rational beings that Plato proposed.
We may be able to reason, but we are far more likely to be unreasonable. We may be able to process complex thoughts and solve algorithmic equations with ease, but we still can’t use simple math to spend less than we make. We may be able to achieve greatness in our field, like Lawrence Taylor or Tiger Woods, but we keep throwing it away for a momentary pleasure. We may be able to amass wealth through the development of our mind and our body, yet, when we’re old, we would gladly trade it all in for a few, true friends. We are predictably irrational beings. We just are.
As I’ve studied groups of people that have gone extinct, here’s something that is predictably irrational. Almost without exception, groups of people that are no longer with us have gone into extinction led by a King that had the privilege of being the last one to die. Yup. Sad, but true.
Today, countless companies are gong extinct and they’re going into extinction at an every increasing rate of speed. This rush to the bottom is caused by two primary forces.
1. The “King” is still demanding his ransom as if we were living in the roaring 20’s, or the go – go 90’s. He is getting paid at 400 times his (peasant like) front line workers. He is demanding that the group work twice as hard for 50% of the wage. He is holding onto his power even though he knows it’s not right. He can’t help himself, he says.
2. The team is still cowering in FEAR. The team is still acting like they work for a King, not a CEO, an owner, another human being. The team doesn’t know how to stand up to the tyrant and has forgotten that they come from rebellious stock; Productive rebels, called your forefathers.
It makes no sense to slowly die, to slowly live in a system that is heading in reverse. It’s make no sense to feel “relief” when the last round of cuts occurred and you’re still standing. It makes no sense to demand a King’s ransom when your kingdom aint performing. Here’s some common sense.
If you’re the head of a system make sure that your pay is no more than 20 times your front line workers. Plato was right here. Build your moral authority by your own pain and suffering. This is only doing what is reasonable and right. This is why we call it the “responsibility of the leader.”
If you’re working for someone, stop taking up residence in victimhood and productively rebel. Productively bring your ideas forward without fear. Add more value than your wage and make sure that today you add more value than yesterday. Act as if you own the place. It’s only reasonable to think and act this way when we understand that our actions just might save the company. Again, if our company goes extinct doesn’t that ultimately hurt us?
We are predictably irrational. We can change. Change starts when we do. Are you ready to be the change to save your system?
Tell me more, King.
Tell me more, team.
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 