There are many versions of the story of Chicken Little, but one such story line is that a chicken named Chicken Little is hit on the head by an acorn while eating lunch. In her panic, she comes to the irrational conclusion that the sky is falling, and decides she must warn the King. On her way to see him, she meets up with many other animals, namely Henny Penny, Cocky Lockey and Goosey Loosey.
When she encouters them, she screams ”the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!” and even gets them to join her on the way to warn the King. Finally, they come across Foxy Loxy, a sly fox who offers the chicken and her friends his help. The fox is not a good character, and uses their fear to take of advantage of them.
How does that apply to you?
Every office is full of Chicken Littles. They go around the office spreading rumors, gossip, and creating fear. They ask questions with a hint of the worst possible outcome, and sew seeds of discontent. I had one such friend years ago. Each conversation would start in the most normal way. We would talk sports or the weather, sometimes even family. Then, he would ask the question. “Did you see those people in Pat’s office yesterday? I think they are here to start the sale of the company. We may be out of jobs.”
The first few times he did it, I was terrified. I was Henny Penny to his Chicken Little. I would ring my hands out of increasing desperation. I might even go to another co-worker and propapate the rumor. Then I would find out that those people had nothing to do with buying the company. I fell for it a few more times, but soon started to see what he was doing. He was a classic Chicken Little. I finally stopped visiting him. I then came to realize he simply found himself another Henny Penny to whom he could spread his rumors. He was the office Chicken Little.
His behavior was definitely extreme, but there are less obvious Chicken Littles in every office. One such behavior is to be the negative person on a project team. He continuously proclaims “We will never get this project done. There is just too much work!” Their “the sky is falling, the sky is falling” is detrimental to morale and the outcome of the project. And ironically, more often than not, they are wrong and the work gets done.
So, I ask you, are you a Chicken Little? Do you proclaim that the sky is falling, or do you find a way to get things done and even encourage others? Very few Chicken Littles make it very far in business or in life. They often get fired, or minimally, they are ignored. My friend actually did get fired. And, in one ending of the story, Chicken Little gets eaten by Foxy Loxy. So, if you are a Chicken Little, I suggest you consider modifying that behavior and think twice before you go to the King or just might meet a sly fox on your way.
What do you think? Leave a comment, or email me at mike.anderson@directyourcareer.com
Thanks,
Mike