A Peacock in the Land of Penguins

A Fable about Creativity and Courage

BJ Gallagher, Warren H. Schmidt

• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781626562455
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Business Communication
• Index: Business

This classic pioneering book provides keen insight into workplace diversity. With new tips, tools, and strategies for peacocks and penguins alike, your organization will flourish and take flight! Through the story of Perry the Peacock and his fine feathered friends, authors BJ Gallagher and Warren H. Schmidt bring to life the challenges of birds of different feathers who struggle to be successful in the conformity-minded Land of Penguins. Their travails illuminate the challenges of creating a pluralistic corporate culture in which the talent, energy, and commitment of all employees are fully engaged. People who have new ideas that differ from business as usual are often ignored or criticized for the very thing that makes them valuable: their originality and creativity. This unique book helps organizations break out of "penguin thinking" in order to tap into and leverage the creativity of diversity. Learn how to cultivate an organizational culture in which new ideas can flourish and innovation can take flight.

Part I

The Story:
A Peacock in the Land of Penguins

There once was a time,
in the not so distant past,
when penguins ruled many lands
in the Sea of Organizations.

These penguins were not always wise,
they were not always popular,
but they were always in charge.

Most organizations looked the same:

Top executives
and managers
wore their distinctive penguin suits,
while worker birds
of many kinds
wore colors and outfits
that reflected their work
and their lifestyles.

Birds who aspired to move up
in their organizations
were encouraged to become
as penguin-like as possible —
to shorten their steps
and learn the penguin stride,
to wear penguin suits,
and follow
the example of their leaders.

Employee Development Departments
offered
extensive training programs
on
appropriate penguin-like behavior.

The rules
and norms
were clear
from Day One.

Penguins advised in subtle
(and not so subtle) ways:

“This is the way we do things here.”

“If you want to be successful,
be like us.”

Some of the birds
who wanted to move up
in the pecking order
became very good
at taking on the penguin look
and penguin behaviors.

But even they
found that
they never quite
made it
into key positions.

It was assumed by all
that penguins
were natural leaders —
orderly, loyal, and good team players.

Penguins could be trusted
to put
the organization’s interests
ahead
of personal and family concerns.

Other birds
were thought to be
more flighty
and less dependable.

Of course,
this was never stated
out loud
or in writing.

Because,
like every organization,
penguins wanted to be seen
as fair-minded and
ready to promote
on the basis of
talent,
hard work,
and contribution.

But everyone really knew —

The penguins
had always been in charge,
and
the penguins
would always be in charge.

The elder penguins
would take
younger penguins
under their wings
and coach them
on
how to be successful.

They would invite them
to play golf
and go jogging.

They would sit together
in the executive dining room
and talk about sports.

It was clear to everyone
who the important penguins were.

It was also clear
that the penguins
felt most comfortable
around each other.

Life was harmonious
in the Land of Penguins,
as long as everyone played
by the penguins’ rules.

The other birds
in the organization
knew how to act
to make the penguins
feel comfortable
and secure.

But there came a time
when things began to change
in the Land of Penguins …

Senior penguins
would visit
other lands,
where they encountered
interesting birds
who impressed them
with their
management talent,
experience, and accomplishments.

“These birds are not penguins,”
the elders thought,
“but perhaps
they could become penguins,
if we brought them to our land
and trained them
in our penguin ways.”

“Surely
these impressive and unusual birds
could adapt to life
in the Land of Penguins,
and the talent
they bring
would make us
even more successful.”

“Our climate is different —
chilly and cold.
And our terrain is unique —
icy and barren.

“But we have thrived there
and so perhaps
will these new birds.

“If they are
as smart as we think
they are, they can adjust
to our weather and our ways.”

And this was how
Perry the Peacock
came to live
in the Land of Penguins …

Now
Perry was clearly
not a penguin.

In fact,
he was the antithesis of penguinity —

Perry was a peacock —
a bright, colorful, and noisy bird.

Perry was a very tal...