I’d Like to Thump Chest Thumpers

Usain Bolt Thumps His Chest
[Photo credit: Daily Nation]

Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world. He won the 100-meter race in 9.69 seconds. A world record. And I don’t like him.

If you’re a manager or in HR, you shouldn’t either. You see, Usain Bolt is an incredible talent. Perhaps the best sprinter ever. But I’d never have him on my team. Know why? The chest thump saying “Look at me!” when he had 15 meters to go. Showing off. Had he run through the finish line instead of waving his arms and taunting his competitors, he could have done even better. Much better.

Sure, running is an individual sport. But there are lots of people around Usain Bolt who helped him run like he does. Do you think he thanked a single one in the interviews? Even mentioned them? Nope. It was me-me-me. While there’s a place for individual achievement — even extraordinary achievement — on my team, there’s no place for chest thumping. That kind of self-centeredness just doesn’t work in business. Be great. But know what got you there.

Posted on August 18, 2008 by Frank Roche 
Filed Under Performance

Comments

Viewing 9 Comments

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    Frank,

    Most people feel like you do, but we don't have to thump the chest thumpers - they do themselves in. Actually, the team usually takes care of them through sabotage or other subtle methods.
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    I think this group (the thumpers) are right up there with a group I don't have a name for – they're the folks that, no matter the situation, must stop everything to ascertain who is to blame so that they may wag a finger (or, usually, worse).

    Those guys, to use your words, have no place on my team. So frequently, when something has gone wrong, the first priority is to correct the problem, and not to figure out who to behead. It's counter productive and it just puffs up the person looking for the "culprit" (like your thumpers) and inevitably hurts the team, as well, for creating an atmosphere of certain folks being better than certain other folks.
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    I ran Cross-Country in High School and during one particularly close event, I turned my head a few hundred yards from the finish line to see how close my competitors were; my coach was furious!

    "Why did you turn you head? Want to see if you need to run faster? Well, if you can run faster, then RUN FASTER, you don't need to turn your head to figure that out!"

    I never made that mistake again.
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    Ron, if it would only happen quickly!

    Alex, you make a mighty point. Isn't that the truth that blamestorming is a corporate skill?

    TC, yep, I'm with you and your coach -- keep your head looking straight ahead. Fabulous.
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    Love your blog, but have to disagree.

    In general, I agree that braggers are annoying. However, there are times when your feat is so great and so outstanding that you deserve the right to pat yourself on the back. How many of us have celebrated the same way in private when we landed a big account, solved a major problem at work or outperformed the competition? I know I have.

    As someone with Jamaican roots myself, I encourage you to read my career blog where I explain why what others see as showing off, is really a way of giving one's self a personal high five.

    We cannot look at Bolt's behavior in isolation of the culture from which he hails and the circumstances surrounding his win. I can guarantee that people in that tiny Caribbean country were bursting with pride, even as they waited for another tropical storm, Kaye, to beat them up again. (;>

    At 21-years old Bolt was the first from his country to win Olympic gold in the 100meters, only 4 months after he started competing in that race. His specialty is the 200meters and his 6'5" frame represents a total contradiction in the sprinting tradition.

    I hate for his great achievement to be overlooked because he didn't hold it in until he got back to his room and he celebrated while millions watched. I consider myself to be a true professional, but really can't guarantee how I would react if that was me. I do know, however, that I would want star performers who are disciplined and willing to work hard on my team.

    I completely agree with you that show boaters or mavericks with no "backative" (Jamaican word meaning no substance), are annoying, a drag on the team and usually self destruct.

    Marcie
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    Marcie, wow, thank you for that calibration. That's a real eye opener and that's a new word for me -- backative -- that is a really great one.

    I agree, I've done the fist pump when I've won something big. I love celebrating...just not showing off or looking like it was showing someone up. From what you wrote, I can see that Bolt was more celebrating himself with a "high five." Excellent, excellent recalibration for me.
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    This man is not just celebrating a race; he is celebrating beating a lot of odds. Life in the West Indies is not an easy one especially for a young man (had 7 friends shot last week). Whenever one overcome obstacles and do great things, we all should thump our chest. I am a much more proud Trinidadian today because my neighbors in the north did great.
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    Thank you Marcie for bringing some balance to this discussion.
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    I disagree

    Showboating and showmanship have always been a part of the 100 meters. Its just different from other events, and the athletes themselves different from other Olympians.

    Its expected for the 100.
 

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