2. Twilight of the Elites?
People have lost faith in
pillar institutions (i.e.,
government, business, the
Church) because those
institutions have broken a
social contract where
people grant power in
exchange for a smoothly
operating society.
â Christopher Hayes,
Editor, The Nation
writing in Time Magazine
3. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Military
Police
Medical System
Supreme Court
Court System
Television News
Banks
HMOs
Great Deal Quite A Lot
Source: Gallup, June 7-10, 2012
4. Twilight of the Elites?
What are we to do in the
wake of this broad-
based implosion?
Reform institutions to
reconstitute a more
reliable and democratic
form of authority.
â Christopher Hayes,
Editor, The Nation
writing in Time Magazine
5. Twilight of the Elites?
To build a more reliable
and democratic form of
authority, there also
must be an ethical
framework guiding
future decision-making.
Itâs not being taught.
6. ďĄ Compulsory Coursework is Minimal
ď§ Graduate School
ď§ Undergraduate School
ď§ High School
ďĄ Survey of Greek Philosophers
ď§ Itâs Greek to me!
7. Parable of the Sadhu
Backpackers in Nepal
New Zealander discovers
an unconscious Indian
sadhu
He was alive!
8. Parable of the Sadhu
Carried below Snow Line
Treated for Hypothermia
Given Clothing B4F864F7
Food and Water
Shown a Safer Path
9. Individual vs. Group
Money at a Problem?
Immediate Response
Failure to Act is a Decision
No One Can Quit!
11. Build the Foundation
Leaders must encourage
their organizations and
support their employees.
Encourage freedom of
inquiry
Support personal values
Forge a common set of
values, beliefs, and
expectations.
Hinweis der Redaktion
The Parable of the Sadhu first appeared in HBR in 1982.Story of a group of Western backpackers climbing the Himalayan mountains in Nepal.One morning, a New Zealander returned with a body slung over his shoulders.It was the near-naked body of an Indian sadhuâa wondering monk.No one knew why this may was in the oxygen-deprived space at 15,000 feet.He was unconscious, suffering from hypothermia, but had a pulse.
The New Zealanders carried him below the snow lineThe Americans treated him for hypothermiaThe Swiss gave him clothing to warm himThe Japanese gave him food and waterThe Sherpas carried him down the hill and pointed out an easy pathWhat more could they do?
Of was it âThrowing Money at the Problem?âThe sadhu experience has parallels to business situations.KICKImmediate response was mandatory.KICKFailure to act was a decision.KICKNo one could resign and submit their resume to a headhunter.
KICKThe key for me is that no one took responsibilityâownership of the problem.There was no acceptable resolution, groups acted as individuals.Everyone had a mountain to climbKICKThe sahdu was an obstacleânot the mountain itself.We see this in business all the timeâprivate sector and public.âBut we would treat him differently if it werenât for the physical and mental stress.âKICKIsnât stress the real test of personal and corporate values?