You have saved the company from ruins. You have delivered growth in the division. You have transformed that business, meeting and breaking all the milestones and KPIs. That underperforming branch is back because your strategy is working. Yet, no one has appreciated you. Yes, no one cares, and you are not happy.
Do not lose hope: learn from David, the stone-thrower who became a king.
57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite
1 Samuel 17: 45-58
By the time David killed Goliath, he had played for Saul, in the palace, during the king’s occasional spells. David has done other things even as a young man – killing a beast that wanted to attack his father’s animals, and worthy enough to “lead” his nation in a battle. Yet, no one knew about him. In short, no one knew his name. The king had sent his armor which David was supposed to use to fight Goliath, and yet no one knew his name.
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What do you need to do to be recognized? Go with your “head of Goliath”.
The captain of the army, Abner, also did not know David: “And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell”. Notice that Abner was open for David to fight for Israel but never even bothered to know about him. He delivered the armor from Saul to David, perhaps, as typical, the person will die, with the armor. So, it was not even necessary to know the latest person that would wear this one to fight Goliath. David was expected to be killed, and there was no need to waste time over him!
Understand that David has been winning small “battles”, and no one has ever recognized him. Even his father, Jesse, never appreciated the young man. Your son had played for the king, but at home, he was nobody. So, David needed a new strategy if he ever wants his acknowledgements to be recognized: go with evidence.
To stop the repeated lack of recognition from happening after his biggest fight, he returned with the head of Goliath (he could have left it in the field). Yes, he came back to meet the king with the head of Goliath, Yes, he came with evidence as he returned from the branch to meet the CEO in the headquarters. With the head of Goliath in his hand, king Saul did not have to ask more questions: the KPIs are there, the records are visible and David delivered more than promised.
The fact is this: understand when it is necessary even as Abner takes you to the CEO to go with the head of Goliath. The head is the evidence of your records on delivering value in that business. When Saul saw the evidence, it was irrelevant that he did not know the young warrior’s name before: David was getting all tax waivers, will be given the king’s daughter in marriage, etc because he has clearly shown the records.
David held the head of Goliath (the evidence) instead of giving it to Abner (the regional manager) to present on his behalf in this important meeting with the Group CEO. Whenever a moment like meeting the king (the CEO) arrives, go with your “Goliath’s head”. That is how you get your rewards.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord‘s, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite
LinkedIn Comment on Feed
A very tricky one, especially in a highly rigged workplace or environment. Some brilliant folks down the hierarchical ladder have been beating to submission by their rogue superiors, with the latter arrogating the former’s achievements as theirs; without any form of challenge.
In the universities, you see a professor publishing a student’s work as his own, without even acknowledging the original author. Same is applicable in many organisations. The suffocating bureaucratic arrangements most times make it impossible for that brilliant ‘small’ manager in a branch or division to have any form of access to the CEO, without the ones higher up shutting you off in your tracks. Some even worked until resignation without coming anywhere close to the CEO.
The system is rigged against a lot of people, especially those who cannot ‘shout’, making them to always remain in the line, with no chance to question anything.
But as hardworking and brilliant manager of a division, you must have a strategy to upend all barriers that will lie in weight to stop you from getting your work recognised by the highest authority. Even the Holy Book affirmed that to takeover the kingdom, you are not going to be smiling, a force is needed!
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