Monday, July 7, 2008

Kublai Khan & Marco Polo

Some time back I heard this very educational tale. This guy called Marco Polo goes to work for an organization - let's call it China. the Big Boss is a guy called Kublai Khan - revered by all, feared by many. After a good tenure Marco Polo gets homesick one day and says to the Boss (who by this time thinks the WORLD of him - and THIS is the part of the story that makes sense even today) " It's been REALLY great working for you in your court but I need to get home."

Kublai takes a flat piece of gold and writes on it "This man, Marco Polo, has my blessings" he signs it with his PERSONAL SEAL. The result? Marco travels cost- and difficulty-free from Beijing to Venice. Everyone he meets looks after him like he was the Boss himself. Why? Because there are two consequences and everyone knows them. If you treat the bearer of such a tablet well, the Boss himself will compensate you tenfold. If you MIStreat such a person the Boss himself will be insulted and will bring death not only to you but to your entire family. Small wonder eh?

Why do I tell this story? Because the same principle works in our everyday lives even today. We all work in organizations and if we somehow have the favor of the Kublai Khan of that organization somehow we tend to succeed more than the next guy and the whole thing becomes a self-fulfilling cycle. If we don't or if we fall OUT of favor we might just as well head for Venice. I have seen the scenario repeat itself in MANY different walks of life and the lesson is always the same. Work to get (and stay) in the best books of the leader of the organization you want to work for or find another organization. I see many young people trying for alternative 3. THERE IS NOT ALTERNATIVE 3 if you need to work for an organization. Oddly enough, it also explains another phenomenon which I have also seen in many places. I call it the "Favor Disease".

Have you ever seen how people react to someone based on their current standing with the Kublai Khan of their organization? If someone is out of favor no one will want to be seen talking to them in the halls or sitting next to them or acknowledging good ideas from them etc etc etc lest they too will come down with the dreaded fatal disease which COULD affect nt ony them personally but also their entire families. Needless to say these folks wither and die away by themselves even if they could have been a great value to their colleagues. If you are in a position of power it behooves you to be conscious about how much YOU can affect the success of others in your organization and therefore of the whole organization itself. In this very competitive world we live in these days it may just make the difference between life and death. Just something to think about. Your thoughts are welcome.