Of Ranks, Titles and Fancy Hats!

The press had a busy week watching a seagull perched on the smoke stack attached to the Sistine Chapel  in Rome. Although they did not know it, they were waiting for Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of a railway worker, to become the 266th Pope of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and the Sovereign of the Vatican State.

I have always marvelled at how quickly people change in our eyes when we give them a title, a badge, a uniform or a lot of money. My concern has been do they change, at that moment, in their own minds as well? No doubt because of his education, his experience and his skills Jorge has grown in many ways over the years. As an octogenarian I know that I have. But now that he has been given a new hat will that, apart from all the other experiences in his life, change his own perception of who he is? Does he now primarily see himself as Jorge or does he now think of himself as Pope?

Ranking goes back to ancient times. The early Greeks selected generals to organize and plan their battles. Most of us today realize the need for qualified leaders for our complex and rapidly changing societies. My question is what does assuming those responsibilities do to one's ego. I am not talking about the obvious negative changes that seem to miraculously change people. Give some people a badge or a star and they abuse the power bestowed. After WWII they called it the 'little Hitler' syndrome. It seems to infest some policemen and night club bouncers! This is always the risk when handing over power. There are many studies completed over the years that show very ordinary people will succumb to bad behaviour if the circumstances are right. Truly a scary thought! One of the most recent studies looking into this phenomena is out of the University of Southern California.

It has been written that "All power tends to corrupt. But, power without status corrupts absolutely." I have always seen it differently, power does not corrupt, people corrupt the power bestowed on them or the power they have seized from others. Richard Nixon and his 'White House Plumbers' did him in. The last few years we learned that some teachers and preachers have done some very bad things! 

Hi Jim!

It is the custom in our society, when introduced to a new person to ask, 'What do you do?' Are we just trying to start a conversation or are we figuring out where this person fits in our pecking order? I know some have worked extremely hard to earn their title. Respecting their accomplishments is something they have deserved and it should be shown. On the other hand the forced use of a title can impose a communication barrier that is difficult to overcome. It took me years to learn to relate to my family doctor by his given name. Something had been instilled in me that forced me to call him doctor. True, our relationship was patient and physician. Nevertheless, it became more and more awkward. Finally I overcame my inhibition and called him by his first name. I now do that with all my medical doctors, and as an octogenarian I have a few! Not only has the relationship greatly improved, what was intended to show respect had become a barrier to an honest and comfortable relationship. The change has greatly enhanced our encounters without any respect being lost. At the same time I must confess not once in my life did I call my mother and father by their first name!

Leaders in the past, in no matter what occupation, were chosen because they knew how to build on the history of the organization and move it forward. But more and more business organizations are beginning to understand the lessons generated by the digital revolution. The way we learn, relate and even think is changing at a tremendous rate. I have heard it said the digital phone provides us with more information in a week, than our grandparents had in a life time! As important as the past may be, the reality is that the normal course of things is now being challenged and thrown into disorder. Leaders must now know how to deal with disorder if their organization is going to survive.

Perhaps appointed leaders think that the title or uniform gives them some sort of exceptional power or wisdom that they did not have before. No doubt some may think it has, by its very nature, changed who they are. 

In Dick's view that is a shame. For the incumbent to think they are a different person because of their title or position, is not only a loss to their honest way of being in the world, but a lessening of their ability to exercise their leadership role.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week