Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team


Photo credit: Huffington Post

I’m a flip-flopper. I wrote an article yesterday titled I’d Like to Thump Chest Thumpers. I changed my mind thanks to BullsEye Resume author Marcia Robinson’s comment on the article.

I said I didn’t like Usain Bolt because he thumped his chest before he crossed the finish line in the Olympics 100-meter dash. I thought that was showing off. Marcia, who’s Jamaican, puts it in a cultural context:

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. (;>

There’s more in that comment, and I’d encourage you to read it. And please read Marcia’s article, Usain Bolt’s Chest Thump Heard Around the World, to get even more perspective.

I believe in the concept of “strong ideas loosely held.” That’s an essential skill in HR. And when I hear a better idea, I try to adjust my thinking. Thanks to Marcia, that was quite a 24 hours.

Congrats, Usain Bolt!

Posted on August 19, 2008 by Frank Roche 
Filed Under Teamwork

Comments

Viewing 40 Comments

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    I think it is more about context - after you get more information about the culture, you can see how Usain's chest-thumping is acceptable. However, I still believe that your first instincts were correct when talking about the concept of chest-thumping in the business environment. When I deserved a pat on the back at work and didn't get it, I went home and thumped my chest in private (I got a lot of bruises that way).
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    Ron, I came from a household that emphasized "look like you've been there before," so that was my initial reaction. Chest thumping wouldn't work. But in the cultural context, as you say, it's perfectly appropriate.

    I always like having my eyes opened. In business, chest thumping wouldn't work...at least not in that way. High fives all around? Ringing the bell? You bet. That way everyone is in on the actions.

    One of my favorite business leaders in the world used to come out of his office when one of his people sold something big or had a great success. He'd get others out there too...and he'd applaud their effort. It was great and it was emotional. I'd do anything just for that.
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    I want to go to Jamaica and drink Red Stripe with Usain Bolt on Eroll Flynn's plantation.
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    I'm with you, brother. And, I'd like to hang out at Johnny Cash's place for a while, too. Have been to Jamaica a few times...love it.
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    Meh ... no matter what culture you are from, running hard till the race is over, being respectful of your competitors and being gracious in winning are signs of a true champion.

    Usain Bolt is a great sprinter, but he is definitely NOT an example of great sportsmanship.
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    Being from the Caribbean I was a bit shocked when I realised that the Americans thought Bolt’s behaviour was offensive. That they judged his behaviour based on American’s standard of what is or isn’t offensive and not in the context of him being Jamaican and Jamaicia’s culture was a bit funny to hear.
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    Hi Belle, I think that's the lesson for everyone. For Jamaicans, it was a source of pride. From an American sportmanship persepctive, it looked self-serving. It's all about worldview. The beautiful thing is the sharing of ideas...and everyone wins. I like that. I learned something new today. And I think about what Jamaicans say: Irie, mon. It's all good.
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    I\'m Trinidadian but I celebrated this victory as though I was a Jamaican. Bolt’s record breaking race was not only a Jamaican victory but a West Indian victory. The \"chest thumping\" made it even much better!! Bolt broke the WR so let him celebrate which ever way he chooses. I have been watching the replay a few times a day ever since. Bolt’s performance gave me a lot of pride even though he big up his chest while crossing the finishing…I only wish he had chosen to do the Willie Bounce instead.
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    Its not a taunt. this is how jamaicans and possible caribbean people react at victory. We beat our chest bang things from pot cover to drums u name it.Embracing yourself doesnt mean lack of respect for others. People want him to act like a European where he should finish the race clap to himself and cry with a serious face , Bolt is being himself a true Jamaican and we are proud of that.
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    Everyone out there, please don't over react and analyze this thing to death. Bolt is a 21 year old kid, still finding himself. He did a good job and I think he probably surprised himself a bit. (He did comment that he had no idea is was going so fast). So he thumped his chest and celebrated ..I've seen american winners in past events display very "cocky" behaviour..are they allowed to display, but no one else. And maybe they only reason the others don't celebrate before they get to the tape is because they dare not...they have to hustle to the very end. Bolt did not have to...don't hold that against him Congrats Bolt, your hard work is paying off. For the rest of us, let us find something we can do well, and do it...maybe then we would have a reason to celebrate too.
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    Culture is generally defined as the norms, practices and beliefs of a society. As a Jamaican I was filled with joy and a renewed sense of pride to see our very own athlete perform so well...the beating of the chest is culturally accepted as a form of celebration...Let us have our time in the spotlight we have earned it. With all the crime and violence and economic hardships that we are currently plagued with Bolt has shown many youths another avenue through which to vent their frustrations which is through greatness.
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    As long as we are insisting on taking an athelet's actions and relate it to a corporate environment to make a point, lets consider the following:

    he did not just win the race against the best sprinters in the world but he obliterated the field and the world record. While I might have waited until the race was officially over to celebrate, I would be celebrating too.

    In my opinion he did nothing to show up his fellow racers, the gestuture was internally focused.

    Froma corporate standpoint even if he was American I would recognize his youth and perhaps take this as mentoring moment to help him undersatnd the beuty of acting like he has been there before which is a very good lesson for young associates

    Lastly, damn he is fast
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    That's why I love HR, there are lessons everywhere!
    When it comes to the boardroom and business, successful professionals must learn to observe the culture in which they operate and assimilate as necessary.
    Sometimes all it takes is one experience to make us recognize that our actions, although instinctive for us, might detract from the outcomes we really want. I don't think he was thinking that his actions might offend or alienate some.
    I look at it this way: Many new employees don't come to our organizations with the fullest awareness of the cultural norms they are expected to maintain. If we see talent and know there is long term potential we don’t cast them aside, we work with them and help them through leadership, mentoring or even etiquette programs, so (s)he learns to play by the rules...at least in public.
    In Bolt's case, I am confident with some off-track coaching we can turn this champion too into a "sportsman", well aware of the spoken and unspoken rules of the game.
    I still want him on my team, though, since I know his performance inspired the Jamaican women sprinters to run their hearts out the very next day and take the top three medals in the 100m. A first in Olympics history! We will save the pay equity discussion for another time though since I know those ladies won’t attract the endorsements that Bolt will. (;>
    Now if he continues to win and celebrates wildly all the time, I might have to think about it some more!
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    Rick,

    We are so on the same page!
    Marcie
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    When I heard the adverse US comments about Usain's chest thump I was absolutely amazed that it could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect to his fellow competitors! At first I put the US comments down to mere pique since their athletes had failed to get the gold, and they had never raised concerns re similar actions by US athletes in the past. However I think I need to explain that Jamaicans are a proud people and Usain was then on top of the world and was essentially saying "l've achieved this great feat and I've done it for Jamaica!" Also, Usain and Asafa are great friends so he would never have wanted to disrespect ("diss")him or the others in the race - see even his wonderful gesture to Russian steeplechase champ Gulnara Galkina-Samitova (giving her a bunch of flowers to encorage her to go for gold and telling her pass it on to some one else after she had won). That's not the action of a showboater or someone who disrespects his fellow competitors! This is a great young man of whom we are well proud - Let's not try to pull him down!
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    Having spent my early in Jamaica. I've on occassion ran against a few of the top runners from Calabar H.S. It was customary then for the clear leader to "pull-up" so as not to embarrass us.
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    if he slow down we complain that he didnt break the world record when he could. If he run leave them we say he embarass the rest , people putting usain in a lose- lose situation. But for me he is still the champ
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    I think that they are alot of double standands especially with some Americans. They criticise Bolt for his chest thumping. I dont think it's half as bad as the americans who before the end of the race were looking at each other and talking. Yall need to look it up and see for yourself. It was Justin Gatlin and a fellow USA teammate. The male USA athletes are the ones who are known to show-off. No one commented about that, but as soon as a Jamaican did it they have a problem. Well some people just dont like when others try to celebrate in their winnings, life is so unfair.
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    Thanks Frank for showing the courage to change your mind. I find that the most impressive thing in this whole discussion.
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    During his legendary 100 metres sprint Usain Bolt was wearing an orange bracelet. The orange color has become a sort of ‘secrete’ signal to the world that there’s something wrong about the human rights in China. Also on the rostrum Bolt was wearing the orange bracelet.

    So the Jamaican elite sprinter has achieved to break a world record and perhaps at the same time denounce that the Chinese authorities have failed to comply with the promises they have given as a condition for hosting the Olympics.

    Danish artist Jens Galschiot is the architect of Thecolororange.net, a campaign promoting orange as the color symbolizing the human rights during the OG. He declares: I do not know Usain Bolt’s motives for wearing the bracelet, but we hope that the aim is to highlight the human rights in China. If so, Bolt has made an amazing stunt in front of millions of TV viewers in China and the rest of the world. Unfortunately he probably cannot say it openly, as the IOC might withdraw his medal, as they have emphasised that no political symbols whatsoever will be tolerated. So he will just have to say that he is fond of orange.
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    I think the cultural context is important. If you read the news people in Jamaica were watching the Olympics from screens mounted in public places regardless of the threat of Hurricane Fay and when he won the pots and pans came out as people banged on them and danced in celebration. He was just doing what he had been brought up around and I so applaud him.
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    Americans complaining about a lack of sportmanship. How hypocritical.
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