How NOT to Lead

CHAPTER 5Don't Be a Dumpster Chicken

Seagull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, then fly out.

—Ken Blanchard

Have you ever been near the ocean and heard the distant caw of a seagull? I remember vividly being in the Navy and hearing and seeing seagulls surrounding the dumpsters at the end of the pier. I also remember seeing seagulls fighting and screeching at one another as they clashed over any scrap of food they could find. Seagulls are the instigators of the marine avian world. A seagull will see other birds sitting around waiting for a meal, swoop in, make a lot of noise, crap on whatever is in range, and fly away. A dominant seagull will also squawk at larger animals to make their presence known and let that bigger animal know they are unhappy with its presence. Seagulls fight, caw, shit on, and impose their will on whatever they can at every opportunity, even if there is no reason or merit to their argument.

Seagulls are so motivated to swoop down and impose on other animals that they have been noted “attacking sharks near the surface of the water.” As you can imagine, more than a few unlucky or nearsighted seagulls have found themselves the victims of that tactic. When one desires to actively engage in the wrong space, one often messes with the wrong perceived victim. In the marine world, that means one ends up as shark shit.

In the Navy, we called seagulls “dumpster chickens.” I don't recall hearing any particularly useful or factual discussion ...