‘Tis the season! One annual tradition in my house is gathering to watch Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer. This year, I watched it through the lens of leadership.
Imagine Burl Ives, as the voice of Sam the Snowman, applying the lessons of Rudolph to the workplace…
6 Lessons in Leadership
Scenario 1
Rudolph first apppears as the new deer at the playground. The other reindeer notice Rudolph’s shiny nose as it glows, and begin to laugh at him and call him names. Meanwhile, at Elf School, Hermey the Elf is also being ridiculed because he wants to be a dentist. Hermey has lots of ideas about how to make sure the dolls have healthy teeth, which, of course, the other elves think is just silly.
Lesson #1:
As leaders, we need to be in tune with how new employees are being welcomed into the team. Hopefully, we’ve created an environment that welcomes new people bringing new experiences, new ideas, and new skills to help the organization be great. Diversity of all kinds must be embraced, not driven away. Ideas should be respectfully heard, not ridiculed.
Scenario 2
The head elf even tells Hermey, “You’ll never fit in! Now you come to elf practice, learn how to wiggle your ears, chuckle warmly, go hee-hee and ho-ho, and important stuff like that. A dentist! Good grief! ” Soon, both Rudolph and Hermey are singing the same song; “Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit. You can’t fire me, I quit. Seems I don’t fit in.”
Lesson#2:
As leaders, it is important that we have the right people in the right positions, matching an individual’s skills and desires with job function and team purpose. We also need to recognize when a team member shows an aptitude for another role. A good leader will help that person reach their career goal, rather than forcing them to be in a role they are clearly not a fit for.
Scenario 3
Rudolph, feeling rejected, runs away and meets up with Hermey, on the road after quitting elf school. The two of them then meet Yukon Cornelius, the prospector who also doesn’t fit in with the general population. All three set out to try a find a place where they can fit in.
Rudolph, Hermey and Cornelius come upon the Island of Misfit Toys. There’s Charlie-in-the-box, Spotted Elephant, and more. Charlie is the sentry who welcomes them to the island. It is clear, as he bounces about, that he can be a great toy. The only thing “wrong” with him is his unexpected name. Spotted Elephant is cute and cuddly. He would make some little girl or boy a wonderful gift, except that his outside isn’t the color people would expect.
Lesson #3:
As leaders, we need an awareness of any pre-judgments we are attaching to people. Someone might not look or act the way we expect them to, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be successful. A team member might not have the background we expected, but they might still be well-skilled for the job at hand. Are we minimizing people because of our ideas, rather than welcoming them for theirs? Are we treating them as mis-fits, just because they are a little different?
Scenario 4
After a time, Rudolph, Hermey, and Cornelius set out to tell Santa about the Island of Misfit Toys. They promise the toys that they will help Santa see that even though the toys aren’t what people might expect, they can still be loved and enjoyed by a needy child.
Lesson #4:
As leaders, are we in tune when our team members “manage up?” Sometimes, we don’t realize how our own behavior or ideas impact others. We can be even better leaders if we are open to the wisdom and observations of others. The success of the leader and the team is interdependent and we need to welcome feedback that is shared with us.
Scenario 5
As we all know, the story ends well. One foggy Christmas Eve, Santa realizes that Rudolph’s nose, so bright, is just the thing to guide the sleigh that important night. Once the leader embraces Rudolph, so does the rest of the reindeer team. The sleigh stops at the island to pick up the misfit toys, and drops them into the homes of needy children who will love them dearly.
Lesson #5:
As leaders, we set the example. If we view a new project with enthusiasm, so will the team. If we see a challenge as an opportunity, the team will follow our lead. If we seek out ways to use the strengths of our individual followers, they will be embraced by the rest of the team for their uniqueness, rather than ridiculed for it.
Scenario 6
And, then, there’s the Abominable Snowman. Throughout the story, he is feared. He’s big, loud, grouchy, and mean. However, it turns out that he has a major toothache! After Hermey uses his dental knowledge and pulls the Snowman’s bad tooth, the monster becomes a big old softy. His height is perfect for adding the star to the top of the Christmas tree.
Lesson #6:
As leaders, we all have experienced that really difficult employee. Sometimes, there just dosn’t seem to be anyway to break though a tough exterior. They might be rude, disruptive, attention-seeking, poor performers. Or, they might be someone with a lot of potential who is in some kind of pain – physical or emotional. If we take the time to have an honest conversation with them, coming from a place of caring about their success, we just might find that what is “wrong” can be made “right.” This may not always be the case, but just imagine if your abominable snowman ended up hanging the star on your tree.
Can you see leadership lessons in any other holiday tales? I hope you’ll add a comment and share them. Have a wonderful holiday and successful new year of leadership and growth!
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Eleanor Biddulph is the EVP of Client Services at Progressive Medical, Inc.
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[…] Filed under: Conflict Management, Leadership Lessons Learned, Organizational Health, Team Building Leadership Tagged: Appreciation, Attitude, leadership skills, Lessons Learned, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, soft skills, Talent Management, team building Linked 2 Leadership […]
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tom Schulte. Tom Schulte said: 6 Leadership Lessons from Rudolph – ‘Tis the season! One annual tradition in my house is gathering to watch Rud… http://su.pr/16FAZF […]
A wonderful twist on a familiar Christmas tale. Thanks…
[…] We were excited to find this amazing article by Eleanor Biddulph and wanted to share her words of wisdom with you over the coming days. Teaching and mentoring can seem daunting, but Biddulph has found a way to show that even in the most simple and innocent situations, there is always a lesson that can be learned. Through story and comparison we are able to see that there always an opportunity to learn and grow if you have your eyes open. Scenario #1 Rudolph first appears as the new deer at the playground. The other reindeer notice Rudolph’s shiny nose as it glows, and begin to laugh at him and call him names. Meanwhile, at Elf School, Hermey the Elf is also being ridiculed because he wants to be a dentist. Hermey has lots of ideas about how to make sure the dolls have healthy teeth, which, of course, the other elves think is just silly. Lesson #1 As leaders, we need to be in tune with how new employees are being welcomed into the team. Hopefully, we’ve created an environment that welcomes new people bringing new experiences, new ideas, and new skills to help the organization be great. Diversity of all kinds must be embraced, not driven away. Ideas should be respectfully heard, not ridiculed. We will be posting the five remaining lessons in the coming days, but if you are eager to read them all right now, please see Biddulph’s original article. […]
[…] Part two in the Rudolph leadership series is here! Scenario #2 The head elf tells Hermey, “You’ll never fit in! Now you come to elf practice, learn how to wiggle your ears, chuckle warmly, go hee-hee and ho-ho, and important stuff like that. A dentist! Good grief! ” Soon, both Rudolph and Hermey are singing the same song; “Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit. You can’t fire me, I quit. Seems I don’t fit in.” Lesson #2 As leaders, it is important that we have the right people in the right positions, matching an individual’s skills and desires with job function and team purpose. We also need to recognize when a team member shows an aptitude for another role. A good leader will help that person reach their career goal, rather than forcing them to be in a role they are clearly not a fit for. Many thanks to Eleanor Biddulph for her inspiring article! To read the original author’s post, please click here. […]
[…] an oldie and a goody and perfect for Christmas Eve. I originally wrote this particular post for Linked 2 Leadership in December 2010, shared it at work, (and was even gifted a framed copy from a co-worker), and […]
[…] Part five in the Rudolph leadership series is here! Scenario #5 As we all know, the story ends well. One foggy Christmas Eve, Santa realizes that Rudolph’s nose, so bright, is just the thing to guide the sleigh that important night. Once the leader embraces Rudolph, so does the rest of the reindeer team. The sleigh stops at the island to pick up the misfit toys, and drops them into the homes of needy children who will love them dearly. Lesson #5 As leaders, we set the example. If we view a new project with enthusiasm, so will the team. If we see a challenge as an opportunity, the team will follow our lead. If we seek out ways to use the strengths of our individual followers, they will be embraced by the rest of the team for their uniqueness, rather than ridiculed for it. Many thanks to Eleanor Biddulph for her inspiring article! To read the original author’s post, please click here. […]
[…] Christmas Day is here, and so is the final segment of the Rudolph leadership series! Scenario #6 And, then, there’s the Abominable Snowman. Throughout the story, he is feared. He’s big, loud, grouchy, and mean. However, it turns out that he has a major toothache! After Hermey uses his dental knowledge and pulls the Snowman’s bad tooth, the monster becomes a big old softy. His height is perfect for adding the star to the top of the Christmas tree. Lesson #6 As leaders, we all have experienced that really difficult employee. Sometimes, there just doesn’t seem to be anyway to break through a tough exterior. They might be rude, disruptive, attention-seeking, poor performers. Or, they might be someone with a lot of potential who is in some kind of pain – physical or emotional. If we take the time to have an honest conversation with them, coming from a place of caring about their success, we just might find that what is “wrong” can be made “right.” This may not always be the case, but just imagine if your abominable snowman ended up hanging the star on your tree. Many thanks to Eleanor Biddulph for her inspiring article! To read the original author’s post, please click here. […]
[…] I would be remiss if I did not remind you that the blogs this month are from Eleanor Biddulph and her article, 6 Leadership Lessons from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. […]
[…] I would be remiss if I did not remind you that the blogs this month are from Eleanor Biddulph and her article, 6 Leadership Lessons from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. […]
[…] I would be remiss if I did not remind you that the blogs this month are from Eleanor Biddulph and her article, 6 Leadership Lessons from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. […]
[…] originally wrote this particular post for Linked 2 Leadership in December 2010 and shared it at the office in subsequent years. It must ring true as it has been […]