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I always like having my eyes opened. In business, chest thumping wouldn't work...at least not in that way. High fives all around? Ringing the bell? You bet. That way everyone is in on the actions.
One of my favorite business leaders in the world used to come out of his office when one of his people sold something big or had a great success. He'd get others out there too...and he'd applaud their effort. It was great and it was emotional. I'd do anything just for that.
Usain Bolt is a great sprinter, but he is definitely NOT an example of great sportsmanship.
he did not just win the race against the best sprinters in the world but he obliterated the field and the world record. While I might have waited until the race was officially over to celebrate, I would be celebrating too.
In my opinion he did nothing to show up his fellow racers, the gestuture was internally focused.
Froma corporate standpoint even if he was American I would recognize his youth and perhaps take this as mentoring moment to help him undersatnd the beuty of acting like he has been there before which is a very good lesson for young associates
Lastly, damn he is fast
When it comes to the boardroom and business, successful professionals must learn to observe the culture in which they operate and assimilate as necessary.
Sometimes all it takes is one experience to make us recognize that our actions, although instinctive for us, might detract from the outcomes we really want. I don't think he was thinking that his actions might offend or alienate some.
I look at it this way: Many new employees don't come to our organizations with the fullest awareness of the cultural norms they are expected to maintain. If we see talent and know there is long term potential we don’t cast them aside, we work with them and help them through leadership, mentoring or even etiquette programs, so (s)he learns to play by the rules...at least in public.
In Bolt's case, I am confident with some off-track coaching we can turn this champion too into a "sportsman", well aware of the spoken and unspoken rules of the game.
I still want him on my team, though, since I know his performance inspired the Jamaican women sprinters to run their hearts out the very next day and take the top three medals in the 100m. A first in Olympics history! We will save the pay equity discussion for another time though since I know those ladies won’t attract the endorsements that Bolt will. (;>
Now if he continues to win and celebrates wildly all the time, I might have to think about it some more!
We are so on the same page!
Marcie
So the Jamaican elite sprinter has achieved to break a world record and perhaps at the same time denounce that the Chinese authorities have failed to comply with the promises they have given as a condition for hosting the Olympics.
Danish artist Jens Galschiot is the architect of Thecolororange.net, a campaign promoting orange as the color symbolizing the human rights during the OG. He declares: I do not know Usain Bolt’s motives for wearing the bracelet, but we hope that the aim is to highlight the human rights in China. If so, Bolt has made an amazing stunt in front of millions of TV viewers in China and the rest of the world. Unfortunately he probably cannot say it openly, as the IOC might withdraw his medal, as they have emphasised that no political symbols whatsoever will be tolerated. So he will just have to say that he is fond of orange.
I would like if you could use this opportunity
to say to the jamaican "keep the crime down"
Read the conversation below between Oto and American friend.
Ato, Ato Bolden ,thank you!!. You spoke as a true Trini. The behavior of the Jamaican athlete
after winning the 100m sprint was obnoxious, disrespectful and had no class for the
intemational stage. His mother's behavior when he won one (1) gold medal was deplorable and
I, being a Caribbean national was glad to know that I am not a Jamaican. I couldn't believe that
she went all the way to Beijing to be a national disgrace. I say national because the caribbean
community lives in unity with each other and when something like that happens, it cast a
gloomy shadow over the entire community. Imagine, Michael Phelp won EIGHT (8) GOLD
MEDALS. His mother was at every event, and with such an outstanding performance by her
son, she carried herself as a lady. I looked with disgust to see how the Jamaican woman was
just plowing through the stands, pushing everyone left, right. and center, screaming like a
banshee as though he had just won eight Gold medals. He needs to be reprimanded in such a
way that will send the message to all who dare to conduct hislher self in this manner that it will
not be tolerated. I know that if he was running under the USA banner he will be dealing with the
consequences.
Caribbean/American
8
Frank
So well said! It is no suprise that you are the honcho of a company focused on communication.
It actually looks quite hyprocritical of Rogge not to comment on what happened to the Black CUBAN winner of the 110m hurdles. Nobody; NOT even ONE participant congratulated him for his gold winning performance. It was a sad moment in the Olympics...
Bolt is a young man who needs guidance for the role he must now play on the world's stage. Let all Jamaicans and Caricom persons join in celebration of this man who has made us all proud.
Frank
I know also that as a Caribbean man, he fully understands and appreciates the differences between a Usain Bolt and the Williams sisters.
No question about the importance of communication skills. I was an air traffic controller for 4 years and so specialized training in diction and clarity to make sure we met the industry standards was appropriate. Very similar to the type of speech training that radio professionals receive or corporate folks receive who might have strong regional accents.
With training, professionals like Mikey Holding, Ato Bolden etc learn to perform on the world's stage and manage their accents. For Bolt, this too will come. I didn't have a problem understanding him, and realized that after one has just finished a sprint, clarity might be sacrificed for purly physical reasons.
It's been less than a week and already we see an evolution as people learn about how to observe the strengths of a culture and put it in context.
On the business side, don't forget that PUMA, a global brand based in Germany, has rebuilt their brand globally by focusing on Jamaican athletes for the last 4 years. They, as sponsors, might have other demands. They might want to showcase what they see as Jamaican rather than what we might want to see as Americans.
It's part of our mission in HR to spot talent, and develop it to meet the needs of our spcific orgs. We should remember too that one size doesn't always fit all. What might work for a tech firm in Silicon Valley won't work in healthcare in South Florida. That's why mergers present such challenges.
We will probably be talking about this for a long time to come and it's all good.
Marcie
It is Bolts other unexpected expressions which are of concern. Grimacing into the camera, eating during an interview, winking up where ever and when ever, and his ganster signs are what will thwart his chances of being included in other events, off the field.
Also, in all his interviews, those after the race and those done in Jamaica, he is difficult to understand.
Most Jamaica musicians make no effort to be understood, so the trend may well be for all Jamaicans to speak only to Jamaicans and not to the rest of the world. Yes...Michael Holding is a great example of a Jamaican who understands the importance of being understood by everyone. The point is quite simple... The young man should have been schooled in the mechanics of public speaking, converstion, camera manners and public decorum and etiquette.
If Jamaicans believe that those requirements are not necessary for the young man, then I hope they will share the responsibility for his not reaching his full business potential. "Make HAY WHEN THE SUN SHINES" is an axiom which is applicable for Bolt. Because of the explosive and highly tuned nature of this sport, his body has to be at peak and any injury can derail a career overnight. Therefore, while he is at the top, he has to capitailze on all opportunites to make $$$$ off the field. He has to be that Jamaican and Caribbean ambasador which has now been placed on his young head. STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT... Let us all help this young man to be the best he can while it is his moment in the sun.... or rather, on the world stage.
Taking performance enhancing drugs
Getting a DUI
(Michael Phelps but it was brushed off because he was just a kid!)
I guess in the US 21 is a kid but not in Jamaica
The Jamaicans were so much fun to watch - like the girl who did the dutty wine head roll for the camera BEFORE the race!!
Lighten up - have some fun - I hear it makes you run faster
Trini
Ato will be the first person to admit that he talks a lot - that's just how he is - and he says what's on his mind.
I also don't think Ato is in any way jealous of Bolt. Ato was never a sprinter in many eyes because he did not have the body of a 'sprinter' - as a matter of fact, his first love was football and he started running very late. But for someone who was not a sprinter, he certainly showed a thing or 2 by winning four (4) Olympic medals (2 silver, 2 bronze) so Ato, more than anyone else, should understand Bolt's position because people are saying the same thing about Bolt, that his body is not that of a sprinter.
So don't hold it against him - I'm sure he means well and would like Mr. Bolt to keep every option open and not sabotage himself in any way.