I Believe. . .

by Lorene Rasmussen

It had been a long, full weekend. We were traveling home from Washington, D.C., where I had just completed my fourth Marine Corps Marathon. We had a short lay-over in Minneapolis, and I needed to walk the stiffness out of my legs. Browsing through a gift shop, I looked up and there he was . . . I couldn't believe my eyes! He was standing in the next aisle over. I had heard about him since I was a little girl but had never seen him up close (if at all).  Was this a case of mistaken identity? I wanted to say something, but what do you say to the most beloved and recognized man on the planet?

 

I kept glancing over at him. When we finally made eye contact, I started to say, "You look like. . ." With a big smile, he stepped out from behind the display, and in a deep voice he responded, "Ho, ho, ho! I just might be." He was dressed in blue jeans and white sweatshirt with a picture of himself printed on the front. Handing me his business card, I said, "My grandchildren will not believe this. May I have a picture with you?"

 

He was everything I imagined from storybooks, poems, and favorite holiday songs. He put his arm around me so my husband could take a picture of us while we chatted.  Apparently, he summers in Minnesota, has grandchildren in North Carolina, and his adorable wife writes human interest stories for their local newspaper (I met her, too).

Saying our good-byes, I gave him a big hug and thanked him for the photo op. He asked me to send him a copy and I agreed. Walking out of the gift shop, I said to my husband, "It's not every day you run into Santa Claus in November, and in the airport of all places." Talking excitedly all the way to our gate about the chance meeting, I finally summed up with, "I wonder why we stop believing?"

In the lovable story, A Miracle on 34^th Street, an enchanting old man who claims to be Santa Claus states, "I'm not just a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor. I'm a symbol.  I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives. If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed for life dominated by doubt."

As a leader, have you stopped believing? Have you lost your jolly demeanor? Is your calendar packed with more dates than a Christmas fruitcake? Do you have to deal with "naughty" people? Are you faced with deadlines? Is your workforce feeling less than appreciated? Would you like to be treated to something simple and tasty like cookies and milk? If you answered "yes" to even one of these questions, then let's take a short break and consider what can be learned from this legendary gentleman, who, since 1955, has been tracked every Christmas Eve by North American Air Defense Command or NORAD.

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or Sinterklaas, is a figure which originated from Saint Nicholas, who was a 4^th Century Greek Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas of Myra.  Nicholas was renowned for giving generous gifts to the poor and needy, in particular supplying dowries to impoverished families so daughters could be married. No matter what name you call him, it appears that most cultures throughout the ages have their own folklore concerning Santa Claus, with one thing in common: he is the "gift giver."

First published in 2007, the little red book, The Go-Giver, shares the inspiring story of how the secret to authentic success is about giving, not getting.  By changing our focus from getting all we want for ourselves to giving all of ourselves in service for others, we add value to those around us. This simple act can have a boomerang effect if we in return stay open to receiving.  Of course it doesn't take a book to tell us something we intuitively know: "The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself."  So, if Santa is known for giving, what sort of gifts might he impart to mortal leaders who dream of success rather than sugar plums?

As a leader, Santa Claus makes sure that everyone knows the organization's vision ("Making spirits merry and bright by delivering toys to good girls and boys"). He keeps the vision in front of them throughout the year by discussing how their personal contribution is linked to the bottom-line and rewards them accordingly.

Santa is very good at assessing the individual abilities of his workforce.  Remember the story of Rudolph? He had a unique gift (glowing, red nose) that the other reindeer use to joke about behind the barn.  But when an unexpected storm hit the North Pole, Rudolph's unique ability was immediately put to use and Santa was able to make deliveries.  Many times, teamwork means relying on an individual's specific gift to lead in a new way.

Probably like you, Santa's least favorite part of being a leader is dealing with conflict and employee performance issues.  In the early years, he would let problems slide hoping they would magically disappear. The truth was Santa didn't have the courage to confront the offending employee.  Who can blame him? Everyone wants to be liked, but Santa's inability to address the issue with the "naughty" elf meant the morale of the others was affected.  Once he realized what was happening, he tackled the problem straight on.  Although it's still not his favorite task, he learned it is better to handle issues earlier rather than later.

Managing change may be one of Santa Claus' greatest obstacles.  Even though the Radio Flyer wagon has been the preferred gift for generations, with the onset of technology, children of all ages are increasingly requesting Wiis, Xboxes and iPhones. To keep up with this trend, Santa has had to rely on the expertise of his elves while negotiating with new vendors. As a leader, he does this with both decisiveness and sensitivity.

And finally, the last thing Santa embraces is Phil Eastman's character model.  If ever there was a leader who demonstrates most of the elements, it is Santa Claus.  When Phil Eastman's book, The Character of Leadership: An Ancient Model for a Quantum Age, was published, Santa was on the list to receive a copy.  He writes, "As an ancient leader in this quantum age, I found Phil's book to be convicting and confirming on how I live my life. Convicting because I am still trying to master the character element of Temperance; confirming because it's never too late and you're never too old to work on your own behavior.  I have Faith that Phil is on the right track in spreading Ho-Ho-Hope to leaders!" 

Meeting Santa Claus in the airport was just the encounter I needed.  With unemployment at an all time high and this recession feeling like Christmas morning with only coal in your stocking, it is so easy to put on your skeptic sneakers and walk through your days with a cynical mind-set that you have the universe figured out, all the while losing your jolly demeanor.  Like every year, my tree is glowing in the corner of the living room with lovely gifts waiting to be unwrapped, but this year I think the most important gift I can give is believing.