Everyday Leadership Series (24) - Leadership lessons from "The Camel Story"

Image result for leadership from camel

 A wealthy merchant from the east passed away. In his will, the man stated that his 17 treasured camels were to be equally distributed to his three sons in rather challenging way.

 According to the will the eldest son was to be given 1/2 of the camels, the middle son was to be given 1/3 of the camels, and the youngest son was to be given 1/9 of the camels. As it was not possible to divide 17 camels into half, one third or even into one ninth. The three sons started fighting with each other for their fair share.

 Since the sons were not able to distribute the camels among them, they went to a wise man for advice. The wise man patiently listened to the sons’ dilemma. After carefully understanding the situation the wise man brought one of his camels and added it to the 17 camels of the merchant. That increased the total to eighteen (18) camels.

 Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will and divided the camels accordingly. Half of 18 is 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 camels. One third of the 18 is 6, so he gave the middle son 6 camels. The youngest son got one ninth of the 18 camels, so he gave him 2 camels.

 After giving 9, 6 and 2 camels to the sons, he had successfully distributed 17 camels. Then the wise man took back his 1 camel.

 Your Takeaway from this story:

 It is good to think outside the box.

 Always add value to everything you touch...you will never lose...you will always gain something at the end.

 To reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, you are stuck and have lost.

 The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th camel i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved.

 When a customer throws out a perceived issue...Do you as a salesperson help them find common ground or do we throw our hands up and give up? 

 What VALUE have you added today? this week? at work? with family?

 What are your takeaways from this story? What value will you add to this conversation?
Leaders must be resourceful.
In grade school you likely learned that camels are able to go several days without food and water. While I am not suggesting that leaders must fast (though losing a few pounds wouldn’t hurt me), I am suggesting that as a leader you must get better at using the resources available to you – using wisely and making resources available when they are most needed. You have reserves of energy, focus and discipline (as well as more tangible resources as well) both for yourself and for those you lead. What are you doing to create a storehouse of important resources to be available for you and your team in the future?
Leaders must be able to take the heat.
Camels live in the dessert. They are designed for hot weather and in that weather they thrive – and provide their greatest service. You might not live and work in warm (or hot) climates, but the lesson shouldn’t be lost. When things are difficult, when there are challenges, when the heat is on the team, project or organization; that is when leaders are most needed. Are you willing and able to take the heat for challenges and difficulties, making it easier for your team to remain focused and productive even in adverse conditions?
Leaders must be able to see into the distance.
I don’t know much about a camel’s eyesight, so I don’t know how far they really can see, but I know how tall they are! Getting a higher perspective allows them to see more and see further. Leaders serve their teams and organizations making sure they have a higher and broader perspective. As a leader you must create opportunities to get a higher view, get a different perspective. From this vantage point you can see your destination more clearly; you can more easily see obstacles and challenges. As a leader both are important – seeing the vision and the obstacles! Are you proactively keeping your sight on the future and helping your team see the vision of your desired future?
Leaders must realize they exist to serve others.
Most everyone knows camels are domesticated animals, and they have been bred and chosen because they serve man in very specific and helpful ways. The thing that most struck me about riding a camel wasn’t the riding itself (though it did give me a fresh perspective and higher vantage point), but what the camel did to help me get on and off. The camel got down on his front knees, then down on his back knees, putting himself in what seemed to an uncomfortable position; a serving position. The metaphor was powerful for me. In each of these four lessons the idea of leaders as servants comes through. To lead in remarkable ways you must recognize that it isn’t about you – it is about those you are leading. I am sure the camel would prefer to not have a person riding on it – and sometimes as leaders it would be easier if others weren’t following. Yet, like the camel, you must choose to serve in order to fulfill your destiny. In what ways are you serving others today?
Thanks for reading my blog.


Are you Leading?

Dr. Deepak A. Patil
CEO, Lead ThySelf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Leading in the VUCA World

Image
  The VUCA world In 2020s, there are no hard and fast rules for managing businesses any more — as the world has gone “VUCA” — volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. In VUCA world the hierarchical organization model is finished and new models are emerging but there is no one dominant model that works for everyone. New times call for new rules but there is no thumb rule for every industry and every situation. Out of the five most valuable companies in the world in 2009, only Microsoft still retains a place in the list. In the VUCA world, competency comes with an expiry date, and it is as true for organizations as it is for people. How VUCA impacts on Leadership? The technologies that are amplifying change are also the tools to manage it more effectively. In Deloitte’s “ 2019 Global Human Capital Trends ” survey, 80 percent of respondents agreed that the 21st century has imposed new requirements on business leaders. It is due to various elements of our connected and digital lives. To
Read more

How a missed phone call made a great impression

Image
One day, my father was meeting privately in his office with a staff member. They were discussing a number of issues important to them when the phone rang. My father  ignored  it. After 3 rings, she looked at him and asked,  “Aren’t you going to get that?” He paused, and remarked,  “No. I don’t know whether that call is important or not, but it can wait. I do know this meeting is important.” Feeling valued, she got a big smile and they continued the conversation with new energy. The Lesson: What you pay attention to, and how you respond to things matters a great deal to your team. If you meet with your people and let push notifications, texts, IMs, and calls constantly distract you, you’re telling your team those things are more important than them. When people don’t feel valued, they won’t trust you, or bother to bring issues to you unless they feel they will get your attention. It’s a great way to end up in a constant fire fighting, reactive management m
Read more

True leaders don't create followers but more leaders

Image
Every one of us is a leader in our own right. Whether we lead an entire company, or a team of people, or a group of friends, or our families, or just ourselves…we are all leaders in some form or fashion. Whatever size our circle of influence may be today, if we work to improve as leaders, that circle of influence will enlarge. I have been in positions of leadership my entire career, and during those years I have learned much about the difference between being a bad leader and being a good leader. Some lessons I learned the hard way, through trial and error followed by the humility that comes from overcoming those mistakes. Other lessons I learned through observing those I esteemed to be great leaders whose example I sought to follow. Through it all I found several traits that I believe are necessary for someone to be what I consider a true leader: True leaders know who they are and what they stand for. They know their values and the rules they will abide by, regardless of t
Read more