Krylov’s THE FARMER'S HORSE AND HIS DOG*
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A DOG and a Horse, who both belonged to the same farmer, began, one day, to dispute as to which had given the more valuable services.
"You have done nothing to boast of!" said the Dog, "I shouldn't be surprised to see you driven off the farm altogether!
A noble career, indeed, to slave all day dragging a plough or a cart.
Yet I never heard of your doing anything finer!
How can you possibly think yourself my equal?
I never rest day or night.
All day long I watch the cattle in the meadow; and throughout the night I guard the house."
“I don't deny it," replied the Horse, "All that you say is quite true. Only, please remember that if it were not for my ploughing there would be nothing at all for you to guard."
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And so it can be at work when one group disparages the work of others. In my career, this was a consistent, seemingly inevitable, behavior, one that led to infighting, debilitating resentment and wasted effort.
Instead of innovation we battled against change efforts, unwilling to cede any “turf”.
Instead of productivity we spent time gossiping about how one group’s work was less important than another’s.
Instead of presenting a “whole-organization” face to the outside world, we curried favor among clients at the detriment of others.
Has crisis led to some resolution, to a more holistic view? I don't know. It’s been a long time since I left the profession..
As a leader I could have been less like Krylov’s dog. Indeed, I should have been more like this fable's horse and recognized how all of us had an important role and were reliant on each other.
*Source: Krilof and his fables, by Krylov, Ivan Andreevich, 1768-1844; Ralston, William Ralston Shedden, 1828-1889. Tr. London, 1869.
© Copyright John Lubans 2020
John Lubans - portrait by WSJ