Maslow, Ned Stark and the Common Good

Last week Ted Coine asked ‘what ever happened to the Common Good?’ At some point people stopped doing the right thing and started putting their individual selfish interests ahead of those of their organizations, countries or kingdoms: UBS, the nation of Greece, Queen Cersei, etc.

These days we see squabbling in Washington over the budget because no one wants to do the right thing for the country. Everyone talks to the hand about cutting costs so long as it is not in their backyard.

Just read Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-Oklahoma) new report on wasteful government spending issued this week to learn about the $936,000 spent to stimulate online soap operas or $75,000 to promote awareness about the role Michigan plays in producing Christmas trees & poinsettia. Dr. Coburn writes: “Over the past 12 months, politicians argued, debated and lamented about how to reign in the federal government’s out of control spending. All the while, Washington was on a shopping binge, spending money we do not have on things we do not absolutely need. Instead of cutting wasteful spending, nearly $2.5 billion was added each day in 2011 to our national debt, which now exceeds $15 trillion.”

What happened to spending for the Common Good?

For those of you who believe $75,000 is not material when compared to $2.5 billion I say shame on you. It’s all those small, stupid expenses that add up. When times are tough at home we stop buying $5 lattes and eating out and shift our spending to what we need and make peanut butter sandwiches every day. (See Maslow.)

Finally, in A Game of Thrones, when Ned Stark became the Hand, King Robert wanted to hold a jousting tournament to honour the new Hand. But when Stark met with his council and learned that the kingdom was practically bankrupt Ned insisted that they don’t hold the tournament as they could not afford it. And besides, he didn’t want it.

The point I am trying to make is that anyone can spend money; but it takes a strong, responsible leader like Ned Stark to not spend it and make the tough decisions for the Common Good.

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Ned Stark. Hand of the King. Chief Risk Officer.

Eddard (Ned) Stark, Lord of Winterfell, is a protagonist in the book A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. He is principled and tells the truth and believes in honour and justice. Ned would make an excellent Chief Risk Officer.

When King Robert Baratheon asked him to become the Hand of the King – a chief advisor to the King who executes the king’s command and speaks in the King’s voice – it was not a job Ned was seeking. He took the job because his friend needed him and Westeros needed a man like him. In that role, Ned Stark put the Kingdom first.

A successful CRO needs to be a bit like the Hand and Ned Stark. It requires someone willing to put the organization first, who tells the truth and seeks the truth. And like the role of the Hand, the CRO needs to have the power to be taken seriously so as to accomplish the organization’s objectives.

(Spoiler alert: Do not read the rest of this post if you have not read the book.)

While investigating why his predecessor was murdered, Ned identifies the biggest risk to the Kingdom: the king’s heirs are actually the progeny of Queen Cersei and her twin brother. Like a CRO, Ned tries to do the right and honourable thing and reveal the true risk to the king so it can be properly treated. But before he does, Ned approaches Queen Cersei and warns her to get out of town. Sadly, the Queen conspires to have the king murdered instead. Then with no legitimate and lawful heirs, Ned Stark suggests that the throne has to pass to Robert’s older brother Stannis; it is the right thing, the honourable thing. The truth.

But before the incestuous truths can be revealed, the Queen moves first against Ned and places her son on the throne. Ned is later beheaded for his treason.

As a risk professional I have always conducted myself like Ned Stark. Although my honour and affinity for telling the truth have perhaps gotten me beheaded once or twice as well, like the late Lord of Winterfell, I cannot behave any other way. Nor should any leader.

People in CRO (or any risk leadership) roles need to be more like Ned Stark but sadly there are too many Cerseis who place their own personal interests before the truth and their organizations. Too often they win but lately it appear the liars and cheats are paying for their crimes.

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