Leadership lessons from Mr. Bates

In the hit television series “Downton Abbey” – and the subsequent movie, there is a character by the name of John Bates. He is the valet to Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham.  

 

When Mr. Bates arrives he is not exactly welcomed by all the staff. He’s given the cold shoulder and it proves to be quite challenging at times. The staff does not believe that he is up for the challenges of the job as he has to use a cane due to injuries suffered in the Boer War.

These challenges include having to climb stairs, carry luggage, serve trays of food, etc. In addition to all this, the butler Thomas Carson has hoped to be promoted to valet himself and is offended to lose the job to “Long John Silver.” 

 

To make matters worse, the staff severely mistreated him and looked for opportunities to embarrass him. Despite these setbacks, Mr. Bates refuses to criticize them or defend himself.

 

While these antics take place in a television drama, is it too far removed from the dynamics of organizations where the culture is marked by jealousies, rivalries, and turf wars? Does it sound like a place that you are familiar with?

 

There are a few leadership lessons to be learned from Mr. Bates’ character and I’d like to explore a few of them with you. 

 

You can be confident in the face of adversity

 

For Mr. Bates, the adversity was relentless and at times cruel. But he didn’t allow the way he was treated to be an excuse for not doing his job or doing his best.

 

Facing adversity is the price you pay for being a leader and humility is your leadership superpower. Humility is about having the courage to show up and be your best when everyone around you is being their worst. When the adversity you face comes from those who ought to be in your corner it can sting, but you can be confident that you will ultimately outlast it.

 

You can set an example or make excuses

 

Mr. Bates’ leg injury came about while serving in the Boer War. While he didn’t let it stop him from performing his duties, it did make it harder. Those around him tried to exploit his condition and did all they could to make his challenges worse.

 

In your leadership, you will face obstacles, challenges, and even those who will overtly work against you. And it’s in these moments that your leadership metal will be tested. And in these moments you have choices to make. You can be an example or make excuses. You can serve with distinction or be distracted. You can walk in humility or stoop down to their level. As far as it depends on you – be an example of servant leadership.

 

You can pull rank or pull your weight

 

A good amount of time went by before the rest of the staff learned that Mr. Bates was indeed an old friend of the Earl of Grantham. It was a knowledge that, if Mr. Bates had shared, could very well have spared him much of the adversity that he endured. But that was not the path he chose in the beginning. Perhaps he wanted to make it known that he was the right person for the job not because of a connection but because of his qualification.

 

The longer you hang around in leadership the more you will learn that you take on more responsibilities and lay aside your rights. It’s not about taking the path of least resistance, it’s about taking the path of responsible leadership.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Life in leadership will always be filled with challenges. Seek to be a leader that is confident in the face of adversity, one that seeks to set an example, and one that pulls your own weight. The world needs this kind of leadership now more than ever.

 

©2022 Doug Dickerson

Doug Dickerson is a certified leadership speaker, trainer, and coach. Learn more at dougdickerson.net/.