As always, Chris, you're an original thinker. I believe that in every successful organization, there HAS to be someone who questions the status quo. I never thought of this role as a jester, but somehow it fits!
Big T
· 2 years ago
So true. In an organization like the one I work for (ie, quasi-state agency) a role like this can help bridge the gap between mgmt and staff. In addition, for a conservative agency, it can help cut the proverbial red tape esp. when trying to get your message across to mgmt.
bgavin
· 2 years ago
I think the Jester (or Fool) has had this role throughout history and I am pleased to see your applying the model to our world today. As always, Chris, sharp insight!
I also like the distinction you draw between the Devils Advocate and the jester. I know I have been guilty of poking holes without presenting solutions and your story today will help me keep "solutions" front of mind.
Sue Murphy
· 2 years ago
People often ask us how we came up with our company name, Jester Creative. To be honest, it was originally just a mish mash of our initials (my partner's, JR, and my former initials, ST).
But as time went on, we realized what our name really means. And you have hit the nail on the head here. We thrive on original thought, not taking "no" for an answer, and creating unique solutions to people's problems. And we're funny, too.
SpaceyG
· 2 years ago
Being court jester type was not exactly beneficial to my career in Big Media or Fortune 100 biz. Guess that's why I'm now an, uh, "entrepreneurial" kinda fool. It's lonely, but I get to perform for the blogosphere every now and then. Not a bad exchange.
john blue
· 2 years ago
One of the people I used to work with, Alph Bingham (http://tinyurl.com/277mv7), used to have a clown face picture that said "Comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable." He was that person at Eli Lilly; knowing the limits of comfort, he would disturb the comfortable and wiggle ideas into the corporate stream of consciousness.
There is indeed a place for Court Jester. To survive as the Court Jester requires good dodge and weave skills plus a patron providing cover when needed. Alph had that.
My favorite story about Alph: He rides Harleys and loves to get out on nice days. Lilly has an intranet that has a person look up function. Traditional stuff: name, phone, job, resume, etc. It also had a place for a picture. Lilly, being a conservative Fortune 500 pharma company, had a policy on the pictures. Nothing profane, nothing "out of the ordinary"; there was a picture police. Considering that the pictures were only for internal people, the rules on pictures seemed lame.
Alph put up a picture of him riding one of his Harleys, the wind in his face, at Sturges. The picture was not meant as a thumb on nose at the "system" but a poke that in order to change and adapt, the company needed to look at itself and have some fun. The picture stayed (he had cover) :)
annie
· 2 years ago
I use the jester roll as a parenting tool. Nothing diffuses a cranky preschooler or a sulky teen quicker than a peak at the humor of the situation. There's always something funny about everything, no matter how angry everyone seems, so I try to find it, point it out- once the giggling starts, then subsides- the real conversation (or discipline if necessary) can take place. Works every time!
Cathleen Rittereiser
· 2 years ago
Chris, This made me think. I am often the jester. Like SpaceyG, it hasn't always paid off in the corporate world. But I hadn't thought about the other side of it. The jester can use the humor and creativity to have a positive impact on the business/task etc. I think that's where many jesters "goof up," myself included. We focus too much on getting the laughs and not enough on saying after everyone stops laughing, "but seriously...." I have been grappling with this issue recently, so this post is timely, thanks
Dan York
· 2 years ago
Chris, Thanks as always for making us think. Yes, Jesters are needed... and yes, the corporate "immune response system" may toss them out from time to time... but I do think it's a role that's necessary. Thanks, Dan
All Comments
I also like the distinction you draw between the Devils Advocate and the jester. I know I have been guilty of poking holes without presenting solutions and your story today will help me keep "solutions" front of mind.
But as time went on, we realized what our name really means. And you have hit the nail on the head here. We thrive on original thought, not taking "no" for an answer, and creating unique solutions to people's problems. And we're funny, too.
There is indeed a place for Court Jester. To survive as the Court Jester requires good dodge and weave skills plus a patron providing cover when needed. Alph had that.
My favorite story about Alph: He rides Harleys and loves to get out on nice days. Lilly has an intranet that has a person look up function. Traditional stuff: name, phone, job, resume, etc. It also had a place for a picture. Lilly, being a conservative Fortune 500 pharma company, had a policy on the pictures. Nothing profane, nothing "out of the ordinary"; there was a picture police. Considering that the pictures were only for internal people, the rules on pictures seemed lame.
Alph put up a picture of him riding one of his Harleys, the wind in his face, at Sturges. The picture was not meant as a thumb on nose at the "system" but a poke that in order to change and adapt, the company needed to look at itself and have some fun. The picture stayed (he had cover) :)
This made me think. I am often the jester. Like SpaceyG, it hasn't always paid off in the corporate world. But I hadn't thought about the other side of it. The jester can use the humor and creativity to have a positive impact on the business/task etc. I think that's where many jesters "goof up," myself included. We focus too much on getting the laughs and not enough on saying after everyone stops laughing, "but seriously...." I have been grappling with this issue recently, so this post is timely, thanks
Thanks as always for making us think. Yes, Jesters are needed... and yes, the corporate "immune response system" may toss them out from time to time... but I do think it's a role that's necessary.
Thanks,
Dan