LEADERSHIP: Michael Moore's a fool

Published: 2011-01-10 There are 6 comments ... please add yours below

You can strengthen business performance by encouraging open and vigorous debate

not allowing you or your team to slip into lazy and unquestioning group-think

Some people regard Michael Moore as a fool. His films attack politics, healthcare and capitalism with half-truths, personal denigration and tear-jerk anecdotes. But, for me, these criticisms (and his childlike attention-seeking) mask an important, old-fashioned sense of being a fool. Moore is a modern court jester: the prankster and truth-speaker protected by the king. With the right also to tease the king. Today’s king is freedom of speech – and Moore tests its limits. As a leader, do you encourage such freedom? Do you have a truth-speaker, who points out where the dryrot is in the system? Below is an agenda of six questions for your in-house Michael Moore to pursue. Do you have the courage to protect him – or her?

If quizzed by Michael Moore, with what assurance could your people answer the following?

Where are we going and why? Are the vision and its rationale still relevant and clear? Or, has the market moved on and eroded your business model? As a result, have people lost their alignment – and no longer care?
Can we do it? Are you taking charge – and encouraging others to do the same? Is communication open and comprehensive? Are the right resources and systems in place? Or, is the team losing its confidence and drive?
How should we behave? Does each team member still strive to win and be their best? And, take the tough decisions? Is everyone fair, honest and accountable? Are diverse views welcome? If not, have values become expendable?
What output is required? How deeply do people care about performance metrics? Is customer service best of breed? Are you quick to solve commercial and technical problems? Or, has the organisation gone soft on standards?
Where and how does everyone fit in? Are roles clear – and motivating? Are you self-aware; and, engaging with each team member as an individual? Are there plans for their individual development? Or, are people and their relationships ignored?
What if our world erupts? Have you and the team responded creatively to the seismic shocks from the GFC? Is strategy being rethought and innovation embedded? And, priorities re-jigged? Or, has renewal and reinvention gone by the board?

These questions underpin what I call Leadership Action Planning. They reflect lessons I’ve picked up from observing hundreds of leaders over the last 40 years. They help you be your own Michael Moore: your own truth speaker. You can then fix weaknesses in your leadership and business. The alternative is to wait for a boss or someone else to focus you on what you need to do. Possibly with the same ill-disguised glee Moore exhibits, when pillorying business leaders in his films. What do you think? Have your say below.

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Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®

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Comments (6)

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/01/14 08:53 am

Dear Phadke,

I'm delighted you found the article above interesting and are sharing it with others.

Perhaps, as you suggest, leaders of Indian businesses have a particular challenge in opening themselves to feedback - and hearing the truth. That is not something I can judge.

However, I think the issue is actually one we can find in any organisation: no business (or government) is necessarily exempt - as Michael Moore's films attest.

In my own career, I've experienced both CEOs and others (particularly in family and closely-held businesses), who won't listen to honest and courageous input from the members of their teams, who want to help the organisation improve.

However, let's look in the mirror for a moment. Each of us (and I don't exempt myself!) needs to work on this challenge - at least to some degree. We need to check constantly (and across all the issues we deal with - at home as well as at work) that we are listening with open mind and heart to those, who risk being our truth-speakers.

Best wishes,

Timothy

Phadke Subodhkumar Narayan - date: 2011/01/14 04:34 am

Namaste sir,

This is great peace of information you shared. Frankly, honestly & fearlessly, I have no hesitation to confirm you that many organisations back in India are yet to follow this barring few ones who are out performing.

Others are not.

Reason very simple. Many of the owners do not believe what you correctly posted. They still believe & do business the way they want and without reading and bothering what's happening across the globe. They don't believe in freedom in turn they treat everyone (baring their family members) like maid servant. Above all, resources associated with these organisations (skilled, unskilled, highly knowledgeable, highly academics, etc.) also feel very happy for the maid servant treatment they get.

I have seen small, medium & mega organisations in India where owners still do business like 1948 (Year when we got our freedom for the motherland) or prior.

I am sure this is a great article as long as Indian business owners reads it and they change their thinking.

Thank you so much for posting this article. I am sharing this article back in India to empower fellow citizens.

Sincerely I remain,

Phadke S. N.

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/01/11 03:49 pm

Dear John,

Many thanks for your kind comment. As you'll see from Amit's comment, there are risks for Potshot writers, as well as for social critics.

However, I (like you and Amit) support Moore's approach - even if, for me, there seems to be some stretching of the facts and certainly the emotions!

Keep well,

Timothy

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/01/11 03:45 pm

Dear Amit,

The opening of your comment seems to disagree with the thrust of my Potshot - and I am more than happy to have people disagree. After all, that's what freedom of speech is all about.

But, on deeper inspection, I think we are actually in agreement. Let me illustrate.

In your comment about Moore, you say:

"The guy is brilliant in disguise of a fool."

In the Potshot, I say:

"... for me, these criticisms ... mask an important, old-fashioned sense of being a fool. Moore is a modern court jester: the prankster and truth-speaker ... ".

I apologise if my use of the word "fool" in both its contemporary and older senses may have caused the problem.

As to the issue of half truths, I personally think there are some. But, they are a staple of satire - and playing the fool.

Best wishes and thanks for your comment,

Timothy

Amit Dharia - date: 2011/01/11 03:35 pm

Why do you think, Moore is a fool and speaks half-truth. He was on Larry King show to debate Dr. Sanjay Gupta who said many of the things he presented in movie were half-truth. CNN has to later withdrew their comments.

The guy is brilliant in disguise of a fool. In USA, 1% of
people really think. Honestly. The mass of public at large are voting based on emotions and lies we hear day in and day out by media.

I am glad we have someone like Michael Moore who can speak language of common people and share their concerns.
Freedom of Speech is a joke !. Either we are too timid to speak the truth or too outlandish to abuse our freedom of speech.

We need freedom for good speech and not hate speech. People are really touched by what happened to Gabby Gifford. It is a shame for our whole country.

Amit Dharia, Ph.D.

John Kitney - date: 2011/01/11 03:24 pm

Timothy,

I liked todays Pot Shot. Michael Moore is a truth teller like we all should be.

Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year.

Best wishes,

John

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LEADERSHIP: Michael Moore's a fool

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