Business

Lessons from a Little Prince

The Little Prince has become a timeless classic - and there are lessons businesses can learn from it
The Little Prince has become a timeless classic - and there are lessons businesses can learn from it The Little Prince has become a timeless classic - and there are lessons businesses can learn from it

THE Little Prince was a book written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Ostensibly for children, much of the content can provide meaning for grown (or growing) up folks too.

It got me thinking that most of my articles are aimed at those already experienced in the world of work, those who’ve been around the block a few times. Sometimes, however, we forget about those who are just about to enter that world, ready to make their first steps in employment.

Think back to when you were starting your first ‘proper’ job; how much advice were you given beyond ‘show up on time’, ‘work hard’ and ‘listen to your boss’? Accordingly, I thought I would pass on a few simple lessons that I learned from The Little Prince, which might in turn help those starting out.

Don’t be deceived by the packaging; instead look closely and examine the content. Actively listen to what a person is saying. Just because a person dresses well, has a £1000 watch or drives a fancy car does not intrinsically make them wise or informative. Neither do trainers and a hoodie signify that a person has nothing of value to say.

If you come cross a problem, don’t let it fester. It might take a little while to tell if it actually is a problem, but once you know for sure; deal with it. It will only get bigger and more disruptive as it continues to grow.

Some things you just have to wait for. Have the patience to let them arrive in their own time. Don’t fixate and ignore everything else in the interim. Use the time in-between to be productive. If you genuinely need it quicker than it is due to arrive, then maybe it’s you that has to move a little closer to it.

Base your judgment on what is tangible. Often you can be promised the earth and be left with nothing to show for it. As Seamus Heaney noted in his translation of another famous story Beowulf: “Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done.”

If you ever find yourself in a position of authority; be reasonable in what you ask from those who report to you. Stretch them by all means, but make sure it’s within their capability. It is unreasonable and dispiriting to ask people to do things you expressly know they are unable to do. Indeed if you ask someone to do something that you know they are not capable of, then the fault will lie with you, not them.

Always take time to revisit work further down the line. Build in a review period. What was sensible, accurate and useful when first implemented may no longer be fit for purpose.

In a similar vein don’t be afraid to question something you have been asked to do, if you feel it is no longer relevant or of any benefit. Sometimes people just keep repeating the same routines over and over because they feel familiar and safe or because they have never been told to stop.

If you are in a niche role, take some time to explore the connections around you. Those that provide input into your work and those which receive your output. Gaining some knowledge beyond your immediate scope of influence will help you understand the bigger picture and avoid becoming isolated.

Words are often a source of misunderstanding. Make sure you clearly understand what is being said to you, ask sufficient questions until you are sure. Likewise ensure whoever you are speaking with understands your point.

There can be far too much time wasted going down a different path from the one intended, but for the lack of a little clarification at the outset.

And finally, never forget that work is only a part of your life. It’s not all of your life. Balance it carefully with your pastimes, your family and your friends.

Barry Shannon (bshannon@cayan.com) is human resources director at TSYS Cayan in Belfast.