Do we learn from past mistakes? In today’s global economy
does big business look at past successes and past failures of other
organisations to help them plan effectively for the future; or is there a sense
of arrogance that comes with the large size of some organizations that makes
them feel invincible?
On 15th April, 2018, it was 106 years since the Titanic sank
and leaders should remember and reflect on the comments of the captain, Edward.
J. Smith, before the fateful voyage. When asked how he could best describe his,
nearly, 40 years at sea, he replied, “Uneventful. I have never been in an
accident and I have seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea. I
have never seen a wreck and have never been wrecked, nor have I ever been in
any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort.”
In the 21st century the biggest and most profitable organisations should be the guiding example for the rest of the business community to follow and learn from. Yet these organisations need to be conscious and aware; and not allow their size to make them complacent to their constantly evolving competitive business environment.
In the 21st century the biggest and most profitable organisations should be the guiding example for the rest of the business community to follow and learn from. Yet these organisations need to be conscious and aware; and not allow their size to make them complacent to their constantly evolving competitive business environment.
I know I’ve learnt so much during my career both from my
mistakes and learning from the mistakes of others; and learnt that complacency
can be a dangerous trait for both organisations and individuals as we go
through our career.
It’s nothing new, “for organisations to deceive themselves is neither rare nor random. Charles Frankel, Assistant Secretary of State in President Johnsons Administration in the US (1965-67) concluded that self-deception was not simply a passing problem, but a permanent condition facing all organisations,” (Landau, M. and Chisholm, D., 1995, p.72).
So what can organisations and leaders learn from history and specifically the tragic story of the Titanic?
The Titanic was warned in advance of the increase in ice and the potential for icebergs, but chose to ignore the warnings; as an example, a steward on the Titanic when asked if it was true that the ship was unsinkable, replied “Madam, God himself could not sink this ship.” Large organisations can enjoy the feelings of power and control – and with it the feeling of invincibility just like the Titanic.
After setting sail the Titanic restated its objectives and decided to attempt to beat the record for crossing the Atlantic to impress its shareholders. There was no immediate reward for beating this record (held by its sister ship) since the Titanic was receiving publicity on both sides of the Atlantic. Power and arrogance led to this decision and contributed to the upcoming disaster. Best practice organisations focus on business principles such as sustainable growth and putting the customer first; on transparency and creating cultures that lead to job satisfaction and retention at all levels – an organisation that will provide a ‘luxurious and safe passage’ for all those who embark on the journey.
Finally, the capacity of the Titanic's lifeboats was only 1,178, while the ship was built to carry 3,000 passengers and crew. There was simply no way any more than half the ship's complement would survive should the unthinkable happen. So when the tragedy occurred, only the few survived - only 705 out of about 2,220 escaped to the safety of these craft. The lessons should be self-evident, plan for all eventualities; accurately analyse, assess and manage your organisations risk.
Critical self-evaluation is a basic requirement of excellence in leadership – it takes courage and self-belief – and that is how we will distinguish between the great leaders of tomorrows great organisations and those organisations who are wondering where the iceberg came from – and who to blame for not seeing it coming!
As Pamela Waymack states in her 2006 article, “management’s overconfidence and failure to see its own vulnerability contributed to the sinking of the Titanic. Neither historic track record nor size and prowess are a match for a market in flux. We cannot assume that our organisations are invincible. A seaworthy captain with a spotless record for 40 years was no match for this field of icebergs,” (p.41).
References
Landau, M. and Chisholm, D. (1995). The Arrogance of Optimism: Notes on Failure-Avoidance Management. Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management, Vol 3, Issue 2, p.67-80.
Waymack, P. (2006). Managing the ice in the waters ahead: Lessons from the Titanic. HFM (Healthcare Financial Management). Vol 60, Issue 7, p.38-41.
It’s nothing new, “for organisations to deceive themselves is neither rare nor random. Charles Frankel, Assistant Secretary of State in President Johnsons Administration in the US (1965-67) concluded that self-deception was not simply a passing problem, but a permanent condition facing all organisations,” (Landau, M. and Chisholm, D., 1995, p.72).
So what can organisations and leaders learn from history and specifically the tragic story of the Titanic?
The Titanic was warned in advance of the increase in ice and the potential for icebergs, but chose to ignore the warnings; as an example, a steward on the Titanic when asked if it was true that the ship was unsinkable, replied “Madam, God himself could not sink this ship.” Large organisations can enjoy the feelings of power and control – and with it the feeling of invincibility just like the Titanic.
After setting sail the Titanic restated its objectives and decided to attempt to beat the record for crossing the Atlantic to impress its shareholders. There was no immediate reward for beating this record (held by its sister ship) since the Titanic was receiving publicity on both sides of the Atlantic. Power and arrogance led to this decision and contributed to the upcoming disaster. Best practice organisations focus on business principles such as sustainable growth and putting the customer first; on transparency and creating cultures that lead to job satisfaction and retention at all levels – an organisation that will provide a ‘luxurious and safe passage’ for all those who embark on the journey.
Finally, the capacity of the Titanic's lifeboats was only 1,178, while the ship was built to carry 3,000 passengers and crew. There was simply no way any more than half the ship's complement would survive should the unthinkable happen. So when the tragedy occurred, only the few survived - only 705 out of about 2,220 escaped to the safety of these craft. The lessons should be self-evident, plan for all eventualities; accurately analyse, assess and manage your organisations risk.
Critical self-evaluation is a basic requirement of excellence in leadership – it takes courage and self-belief – and that is how we will distinguish between the great leaders of tomorrows great organisations and those organisations who are wondering where the iceberg came from – and who to blame for not seeing it coming!
As Pamela Waymack states in her 2006 article, “management’s overconfidence and failure to see its own vulnerability contributed to the sinking of the Titanic. Neither historic track record nor size and prowess are a match for a market in flux. We cannot assume that our organisations are invincible. A seaworthy captain with a spotless record for 40 years was no match for this field of icebergs,” (p.41).
References
Landau, M. and Chisholm, D. (1995). The Arrogance of Optimism: Notes on Failure-Avoidance Management. Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management, Vol 3, Issue 2, p.67-80.
Waymack, P. (2006). Managing the ice in the waters ahead: Lessons from the Titanic. HFM (Healthcare Financial Management). Vol 60, Issue 7, p.38-41.
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