Dance With Those Who Brought You to the Ball

Published: Apr 23, 2004

Application

Loyalty receives great rewards.

Cleverness is not the only ingredient for being considered for promotion in many organizations. Slightly above average intelligence combined with unquestionable loyalty is often the greatest factor in rising to the top.

For the small business operator, problem-solving is greatly enhanced when you are, and have, loyal friends and associates in your networks. There's a trust that seems to develop during the good and bad times.

Trust yields greater truth.

Stories

Loyalty is supreme in life-and-death situations

Anyone with experience in the military or a police force can recall times when you joined others, shaking your heads to ask, "How did he/she get promoted?"

The conclusion that loyalty must've been the key factor is usually supported with a story about that person's loyalty during one or more crises.

The way I see it, the business world seems to be no different. Keeping confidential information secret, sharing confidences and providing active support seem to be dimensions of loyalty.

Submitted by: NephewGerry

Loyalty to traditions outweighs other factors

A famous case study was documented during a succession of a new President-CEO to replace the founder of a large retail operation. It was even produced as a video for B-school case study to allow students to speculate on which of the several candidates would be chosen. Attributes for each prospect varied over a range of age, experience and relationships to the founder. It was a great case that went on for a few years as the high profile founder grew older.

Who won? The young nephew who never missed a Friday night dinner, a valued Jewish tradition.

Unfortunately, the challenge proved too much for the anointed one. He was replaced by an outsider within a few years after the founder passed away.