Business heroes needed: Are you one?

Yesterday was Memorial Day in the USA. A day to remember those who fought for our ideals. A day to bring stories back. A day to remember heroes and heroines, the ones who have been recognized, and the unsung and forgotten. It makes me think: Do we know what a hero is? Do we still need heroes? Do we even believe in heroes and heroines anymore?

What is a hero?

According to Wikipedia, A hero (heroine for females) was originally a demigod. But later, came to refer to those who, in the face of danger and adversity, or from a position of weakness, display courage. They had the will for self sacrifice for some greater good.

From its Latin and Greek roots, the word hero is believed to mean "protector, or defender." When we think of past heroes and heroines from any country, they usually qualify through brave deeds and nobel qualities. Take for example Juana Galán, from Spain (Valdepeñas, 1787-1812). She was a single twenty years old woman who worked at the first tavern in her village of Valdepeñas.

On June 6, 1808, in the battle of Valdepeñas against Napoleon's troops, Juana encouraged the women of the town to fight, because there were not sufficient men to defend the village. The women poured hot water and boiling hot oil through the windows, on the soldiers passing on the road. Meanwhile, Galán, armed with a baton, took to the street to fight against the French cavalry.

Through this battle, the French army abandoned the province of La Mancha and was delayed at the Battle of Bailén, which ended in victory for the Spaniards. The town was proclaimed "Very heroic." A heroine was born, who later served as inspiration for Spanish women to become more involved in public affairs.

Do we need heroes?

Heroes exist to protect people who need protecting. Have we become so proud as a society that we think we don’t need heroes? Is our society a place deserving heroes? Why would heroes want to hang around, and risk their life, for people that don't value the very things that heroes stand for, like virtue, morality, and honor?

Maybe we need to admit that life is trying, and that we need heroes to help us through, and inspire us. Maybe we need to admit that our businesses need heroes too. Maybe we need to learn to embrace our heroes again. They are still around us. We just have forgotten how to look for and recognize them.

Do businesses need heroes?

Business heroes are responsible for keeping businesses solvent, and keeping employees working. They are people who don't just ask employees at the lowest rungs of the ladder to do more with less, but who actually lead by example when there is a need for sacrifice:

• They cut their own salary before they cut any employees.
• They might offer employees part of their hoard of stock options if they have to let them go.
• They go out of their way to offer additional healthcare or other benefits to recently laid off workers.
• When things improve, they call first the people they had to laid off.

As Bill Taylor said last year, “real heroes of business are leaders who are more concerned about unleashing freedom than amassing power — about creating economic value based on the values they espouse and that their colleagues live and work by every day.”

Taylor defines business heroes by

• the quality of the ideas around which they build their organizations,
• the depth of the humanity with which they guide their colleagues, and
• the humility with which they approach the truly difficult challenge of making positive change in perilous times.

Are you a hero?

I think one of the reason we don’t strive to be heroes or heroines today is because we think of a "hero" as one who has no failings. We expect our CEOs, Presidents, etc to be perfect. The media, whether it be TV, newspaper, radio or the Internet will run a story about a "hero" some times. But will just as quickly, if not faster, run a story that sensationalizes shortcomings.

Society has lowered the bar on basic values to a level where heroes make us feel bad about ourselves. Instead of inspiring us, they shame us. Therefore, we no longer wish to achieve the title of "hero." Yet, more than ever, our businesses need heroes and heroines. Leaders who will preserve the basic values of society. Men and women that will not "sell" themselves for gain. People who will be true to the trust and responsibility given them.

I want to challenge you today to become a business hero.

• Value your human capital even more than the economic value.
• Build a team in which everyone has a voice.
• Don’t look out only for yourself, but look for the benefits that everyone can gain.
• Don't think just to outcompete your rivals. Look instead to redefine what's possible, and what really matters to your clients.
• Live your values and seek to inspire others to strive for quality and excellence.
• Be prepared to do the right thing at the right time.

Don't think that you must make others smaller, so that you may feel bigger. Discard the idea that watching others sink is the way to rise to the top. Forget the concept that you need to look out for number one. We need heroes that serve a greater purpose.

You can be a business hero! Being a business hero will give you the cutting edge you want and need, and will bring much needed inspiration to the workplace.

Share your thoughts

How do you define what it means to be a business hero? In which ways are you a hero in your business? Leave your answers in the Comments area below, and let’s get a conversation going.

Photos by: Beverly & Pack and Cimeg1984