True Leaders

Prologue: This story is inspired by European history but is applicable to organisations and businesses around the world.

During the Middle Ages, the Norsemen are often remembered for their fierce and uncompromising nature. Yet there is one important thing that today’s senior executives and other organisational leaders can, and should, learn from them: leading by example, bearing the consequences of one’s own decisions, and being willing to share the same risks as their people.

The leaders of the Norsemen, whether Kings, Jarls, Chieftains, town heads, or village elders, were expected to lead from the front. In battle, they fought alongside their people, accepting the same risks and consequences, including death itself. In disputes, they did not hesitate to draw the sword themselves rather than sacrifice others by demanding their people to fight in their name.

In today’s organisations, however, leaders do not truly stand beside their people in difficult times. Most of today’s leaders like senior executives and other organisational managers, sit safe in their bureaucratic wombs, letting their subordinates suffer in hard times. They remain protected while asking their employees to carry the burden of crises, restructuring, layoffs, and salary reductions. They are not on the front line, willing to endure the same consequences as their people. Instead, they often shield themselves from hardship while expecting sacrifice from others.

In difficult times
– It is not the managers who lose their jobs but rather demanding employees to be dismissed in the dozens, hundreds, or even thousands.
– It is not the managers who reduce their own salaries but instead demanding their employees to accept salary cuts or reduced working hours.
– It is not the managers who relinquish bonuses and incentives but instead demanding their employees to sacrifice financial security.

How can we continue to accept such unfair and unequal behaviour that damages the wellbeing and dignity of millions of people while simultaneously fuelling frustration, division, and social unrest?

Join us in changing the business world, redefining common leadership, creating wellbeing organisations, and fostering happy people workplaces.

Jürgen Mohr
– Co-Founder at HAANA Institute for Leadership and Wellbeing –
– Program Development and Student Communication –