Hwæt! We Gar-Dena in gear-dagum, þeod-cyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon!
We all remember inspirational teachers - those that in some way reached deeper into our minds and sparked wonder, creativity, imagination, and fun. For me, one such teacher - from my UK equivalent of Grade 3 - would tell us a classic story of adventure or exploration and around that we would create essays, and art projects, and presentations, and mini plays. One of my favourites was the story of Beowulf.
The Beowulf epic poem was written down somewhere between 8th and 11th centuries, originally in Old English - but I guess we used a modern translation. Beowulf was a warrior and later a king of the Geats - part of modern Southern Sweden and Denmark. The stories combine myth, legend, and history, and describe a world of warriors, an endless supply of challenges to overcome including monsters (Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon), and grand deeds of daring and bravery.
I revisit the story now and then, each time relating to it differently depending where I was in life at the time. But there are some themes that are described in the story that are just as relevant today as ever they were. While the character of Beowulf is fictional, he is probably a composite of several other real people. He was a leader, a strategist, a tactician, and just someone that got things done in an uncertain, challenging world, while inspiring people to follow him - sounds like a checklist for being a modern day CEO or business owner.
So, what can we take away from Beowulf's approach?
Confront challenges head-on and don't avoid tough decisions. Before Beowulf's arrival, the kingdom had been trying to ignore the monster Grendel for many years - but things just kept getting worse; and after defeating Grendel, things got even worse (curtesy of Grendel's mother who was now VERY angry), before they finally got better. Many businesses have chronic issues that they would rather ignore, but these issues rarely resolve themselves and need to be tackled with a strategic approach and an eye on the longer-term benefit of enduring some pain now.
Focus on the long-term, not just immediate gains. Beowulf wanted to build a sustainably peaceful and prosperous kingdom (of course with him as king). With this long term goal constantly in mind he could pick his battles carefully - working out which had to be fought and which could be avoided. Businesses are constantly bombarded by challenges and opportunities - and an eye to the longer-term goal can indicate how best to respond to each.
Roll with your role. Beowulf evolved from a young warrior seeking challenges in order to prove himself, to a wise old king fully aware of the responsibilities of leadership. As companies grow, they require quite different styles of leadership. Early on it may be more about boldness and proving value in the market and taking risks. Later, the leader's role should shift to that of a mentor and strategic thinker, focusing more on empowering others and making decisions that benefit the broader organization. Effectively a shift from a focus on 'winning the battle' to 'ensuring the prosperity of the kingdom'.
Invest in and trust your team. Despite earlier lone victories as a warrior, Beowulf realized he could not defeat the dragon alone - he needed loyal and trusted people with him. In a business, people can constitute a considerable component of operating costs and so what the team can and will do is crucial. The business world is becoming ever more challenging and complex requiring more agility. Business leaders need to build teams that can be relied upon in times of uncertainty and crisis. This means investing in employees’ growth, building a culture of loyalty and mutual respect, and recognising those who remain committed to the company’s vision. This is where actually having an inspiring long-term vision, strong values, and purpose come in very handy.
Address small problems early to prevent them from becoming major issues. The dragon wouldn't have woken up and become a problem if someone hadn't taken a cup from its hoard; that small event spiraled into a major issue. The problem could have been resolved early on - but it was left far too long, and required drastic action. For businesses, checking constantly for things like a minor customer complaint, a dip in team morale, or a slight shift in market trends is crucial; while seemingly insignificant, they can escalate if ignored and become exponentially more difficult and costly to resolve as time passes.
Know when to delegate or take the lead. People learn by doing, and so need to be given the opportunity to 'learn' by being given the opportunity to 'do'. Beowulf was a master of knowing when he had to fight a battle himself, when to work with other members of his team, or when to stand back completely and let others do the work - and take the glory. For modern business owners - especially of growing companies - delegation can often be a struggle. Shifting from a role as 'the doer' to a role of mentor is crucial in building a capable and resilient team; this also coincides with the business leader being increasingly focused on strategic growth rather than being bogged-down in day-to-day operations.
Embrace uncertainty. A large part of the Beowulf story involved the idea that the world is very uncertain. Events or situations happen; what is important is how they are responded to. Situations and responses are parts of an ongoing chain where each response (which consists of understanding the issue, a decision, and an action) creates a new link to a new situation that needs responding to. Only by knowing where you want the chain to end up, can you respond appropriately to each new situation that occurs along the way. For businesses, this means embracing the inherent uncertainty of the world. Strategic thinking and planning is crucial, and so is the ability and willingness to adapt when things don't go as planned. Acknowledging that not everything can be controlled allows leaders to prepare for the next challenge link in the chain.
Today, there are many translations and adaptations of the Beowulf story which makes it very accessible (old English was like a completely different language). Even better though is to have an inspirational teacher who can bring the story to life in its telling - which takes it back to its original form of 'oral story telling'. And, part of the role of a modern business leader, is to tell the inspiring story of their company's future.
Graham
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