We ran this as a two-part post last year at this time, it was so well received, we are posting again (all in one post)!
A note from the author Michael Rosone:
This post is written in a lighthearted manner with humor
and leadership lessons at its core. It is not intended to dampen the holiday spirit or to take away from the joy that the film, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, has brought to so many people over the years. It is, instead, intended to illustrate the impact that those in a leadership position can have on others by highlighting specific scenes from the film that are both humorous and devoid of any true level of leadership. Happy holidays and great success in the New Year!
The film opens with Mrs. Clause laying out a feast for Santa in the days leading up to Christmas. Does Santa really need to be at his heaviest on his hardest and most stressful day of the year? He’s not a Thanksgiving turkey that needs “fattening up”; rather he should be cross training to be in the best shape of his life.
Leadership Don’t: Don’t mistreat your body and expect it to be in peak physical shape. Instead, remember that a healthy leader – physically, mentally, and spiritually – makes for a better, more focused leader and sets a similar example for the rest of the organization.
Shortly thereafter Rudolph meets Santa for the first time and his nose begins to glow. Donner, Rudolph's father, immediately says, “I'm sure it will stop as soon as he grows up Santa.” To which Santa replies, “Let’s hope so if he wants to make the sleigh team some day.”
Leadership Don’t: What does the color of Rudolph’s nose have to do with his ability to pull Santa’s sleigh? Based on Santa’s “husky” size, I’d think that strength, speed, endurance, and vertical leap would round out the top criteria. It is not good practice (nor is it legal) to summarily discount someone who does not outwardly appear to have the right qualities.
Donner continues, “Santa's right, he'll never make the sleigh team.” And shortly after comes up with a genius plan to hide Rudolph's nose by applying mud on it, “You'll be a normal little buck just like everyone else."
Leadership Don’t: Instead of celebrating the aspect of his son that makes him unique, Donner is trying to make him “normal.” This sends the wrong message to Rudolph, asking him to hide his talents and strengths instead of using them.
Parenting Don’t: Really Donner? Really?
The story moves to Santa's workshop where all the elves are making toys. We are introduced to Hermey, who is affectionately referred to as “the Misfit Elf” because he doesn't want to make toys; instead he wants to be a dentist. More appalling than the ridicule Hermey endures by his co-workers, the other elves, is the contempt and lack of respect by his boss who openly mocks him in front of the other elves for having aspirations other than toy-making.
Leadership Don’t: While it can be argued that Hermey's boss had a right to be frustrated given that the primary responsibility for an elf in Santa's workshop is “toy making,” he failed to express his feedback and disappointment in private, opting for a manner that was disrespectful to and demoralizing for his employee. He also missed an opportunity to think outside of the box and consider how Hermey’s unique passion and skill set could benefit the company as a potential off season revenue stream (e.g., opening up a dentistry to diversify services and treat toothaches after Halloween).
After being told by his father “There are more important things than comfort - like self-respect,” Rudolph begins singing, “Why am I such a misfit, I am not just a nitwit. Just because my nose glows why don't I fit in?” (Not sure if they keep statistics on how many reindeer are diagnosed as clinically depressed but if this is the type of leadership and parenting that takes place in the North Pole, then there is an opportunity and a market for “anti-deer-pressants,” patent pending).
Parenting/Leadership Don’t: Although Donner thought he was helping his son and teaching him a valuable life lesson, the lack of acceptance of his uniqueness and the lack of unconditional support and love left Rudolph feeling confused, devalued and feeling like a misfit. What impact do you think that has on motivation and productivity?
Along those same lines Hermey's boss later finds Hermey fixing the teeth of a doll. When asked why he was doing that Hermey responds, “I was just trying to fit in.” His boss replies similarly as Donner and emphasizes that Hermey will never fit in.
Leadership Don’t: Harshly reprimanding (bordering berating) an employee does not build trust and a yearning to do better quality work. To the contrary any discretionary effort the employee would have put forward will most likely be withheld. And rather than the organization benefiting from an engaged and motivated employee, the most the organization can now hope for is compliance.
The film takes us to the Reindeer Games with Comet, the Coach, trying to teach the young reindeer to fly. After Rudolph is told he is cute by Clarice, the only one who unconditionally accepts him, Rudolph flies better than all the other reindeer. Everyone is impressed (even, and especially, Santa). But, once the cover falls off Rudolph's nose, everyone begins to call him names. Santa turns to Donner, “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Leadership Don’t: Where’s the Christmas spirit of acceptance Mr. Kringle? So let’s get this straight, Santa, who has spent the last month gorging himself and whose fashion sense consists of an overgrown beard, a red velvet suit held in place by a 17 inch square belt buckle and big black vinyl boots is passing judgment on a father of child simply because the child was born with a different feature than others. If anyone should be ashamed, it should be Santa for his inability to be accepting of others. If Santa really thought about it and truly believed that people are judged on how they look he would quickly see that he too is the exception.
And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Rudolph tries to join the rest of the reindeer but Comet (the adult coach) says, “No, no, you better go back home with your folks.” He then says to the other reindeer, “From now on gang, we won't let Rudolph join in any reindeer games, right?”
Leadership Don’t: The only thing worse than the coach/mentor ostracizing someone who wants to be on the team, is his willingness to rally others to also exclude the supposed under-performer. The irony is that Rudolph actually performed better than the others, yet his immediate supervisor, Coach Comet, along with the head of the organization, Santa, were stuck in their paradigm of what they believed a high performing reindeer should look like rather than looking at Rudolph’s talent.
The story continues, Rudolph leaves home and only returns after a run in with the Abominable Snow Monster. When finally reaching home, Santa informs him that Rudolph’s parents have been gone looking for him and haven’t been seen in months. Santa continues, “And I'm really worried. Christmas Eve is only two days away and without your father, I'll never get my sleigh off the ground.”
Leadership Don’t: Santa basically says “My social motive of personal power does not allow me to be emotionally intelligent enough to realize that you Rudolph, cold, scared, and deprived of any self-esteem, may be worried about the safety of your parents and your girlfriend. The only thing that matters is what I need.” Santa clearly is lacking in empathy, a key characteristic for successful leaders.
So while Rudolph will go down in history – and deservedly so for persevering through and rising above the poor leadership and the lousy organizational climate he was subjected to – I hope the overriding theme of the story resonates with you: Just because someone on your team does not outwardly appear to be a contributor, don't judge or project a set of limiting beliefs until he/she is given the opportunity to show you how unique they truly are. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Plus don't we all have some kind of “shiny nose?”
Happy Holidays!
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The year I turned 40, I had a revelation. I decided that if what I was doing did not make me happy, I was not going to do it anymore. A simple concept yet challenging to implement because I had come to realize that I hated my job, was overcommitted to volunteer activities and had evolved into a control freak. I knew it was time to make some big changes and that it would take some time to do, but I was committed!
