Limericks for Leaders
There’s an inverse relationship between smiles and importance. As importance goes up, smiles go down. Truly important leaders seldom smile. Frankly, some days, I’m way too important.
For self-centered leaders:
There once was a leader named Jim
Who thought it all was about him.
He took all the glory
From everyone’s story.
So all of his people turned grim.
***
For leaders who love meetings:
There once was a leader named Keating
Who fell in love with long meetings.
His people were bored
And some of them snored.
They wished they could just have a beating.
***
For self-centered managers:
A manager lived in the city
Who thought he was handsome and witty.
He did little work
He was really a jerk.
Now isn’t that just a big pity.
***
People don’t tell you the truth:
There once was a leader named Mary
Whose nostrils were large and quite hairy.
Her people all stared
But, none of them dared,
To tell her she looked strange and scary.
***
Bonus true joke:
My wife told me, “People who already know can’t be taught.”
I paused a moment and said, “I know.”
Got a limerick, silly joke, or funny story?
Check out the “serious” list of leadership L’s on the Leadership Freak Facebook Page. While you’re there, add leadership M’s for tomorrow’s post.
Shouldn’t it read “her people ALL stared”?
Otherwise enjoyed the article
Thanks Jim… I fixed it from “are” stared to “all” stared.
There once was a leader named Jay
From the truth he always would sway
“If they know the real story
I’ll lose all the glory
Best to keep power away”
Wow!! I’m afraid “Limerick Talk” is going to be stuck in my head all day.
I’ve done limericks as a teambuilder…it’s a lot of fun.
great idea…I’m putting that technique in my back pocket for future use.
There once was a leader from Penn-State
Who’s talks were sprinkled with hate
He said with a grin
It’s just such a sin
That others don’t think I’m so great.
Love this! I am printing it out and putting it on the bulletin board!
Limerick, ok will give it a whirl!
There once was a leader from Nantucket.
His Ego so large he couldn’t unstucket
All his folks could only yearn
for him to learn to forget everything he thought
he knew about Leadership and watch Bob Chapman’s
video Defining Moments.
Wow I am really bad at this LOL, that last part did not rhyme AT ALL!!!!!!!! LOL
Guess that is the one thing about Truth, sometimes it is really funny, other times, just OBVIOUS.
Ok how about a stab at a story?
Little Johnny at work one day playing with some silly putty!
Supervisor asks what Little Johnny is doing, Little Johnny says this is cow dung, I am making a Supervisor!
Supervisor, a simpleton with no sense of humor with limited people skills is upset so goes to the Manager. He tells the Manager, Little Johnny insulted ME, doesn’t he know who I am?
The Manager sits down with Little Johnny, more people skills to understand the Dude. He asks Little Johnny what is going on?
Little Johnny says this in my hands is cow dung, making a manager with it!
Manager better than simple supervisor upset cause he is upset-able reaches the limit of his ability to understand Little Johnny! Throws his hands up and calls on THE LEADER!
The Leader much more versed in what causes 7 out of 10 people to leave work feeling unfulfilled and not cared about is SMARTER, if not wiser. Ok NOT WISER! Leader tries his stuff from his bag o tricks.
He comes in, takes a look at Little Johnny and goes in from a different angle. He goes in, smiles at Little Johnny and says, Oh Little Johnny, you making a Leader out of that cow dung?
Nope Little Johnny says, not nearly enough of this to make one of THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh that Little Johnny.
To me there are only two kinds of people, those committed to being OPEN and WILLING to question everything from an open place knowing everyday is a chance to learn something new, better, more effective.
Then there are the folks who think they know what they need to know. Not interested in REALLY gut level inspecting if what they are up to is the most helpful. These are people who want things to stay in place they do not have to change, just regurgitate. They want to have arrived at a place of comfort and familiarity.
Its cool, I get it, I am only interested in change I imagine is gonna feel good!
Yeah there are those that can’t(won’t) hear we as Leaders in America are failing 7 out of 10 of the people we have the honor to Lead.
They just want to keep reading what they have been reading, trying what they have been trying, thinking what they been thinking, believing what they been believing, and not REALLY take into their gut the fact it is not working or not? It isn’t.
Can’t find in any way shape or form a person REALLY understanding 7 out of 10 employees in America leave work feeling no one cares about them and think that is WAY COOL!
3 out of 10 will get you millions in BASEBALL, Leadership AIN”T BASEBALL! Especially if you are one of those 7!
Then there are those who are grateful and willing and have a hunger for what is next, what is better, what is more effective EVEN it is means what I thought before is now better left behind.
There is a better way, People Centric Leadership.
Thanks Dan, this was fun!
Cooperate, not compete, to become more effective with people in “opening out a way whence the imprisoned splendor may escape”. Robert Browning
L Word for the day…….Legerity…..lightness, nimbleness.
Am I willing to hold my beliefs, techniques, strategies nimbly, ready to change to something better when I uncover it? Am I willing to look to uncover better? Then DO better? That answer tells what kind of a person I am.
SP OUT!
In regarding to writing limericks… I don’t think either of us should quit our day jobs… 🙂
I once knew a guy name of scott
who wrote long comments a lot
hmmmmm…..
and I the rest I think I forgot
Lol
Priceless
I write cause I care, deeply
Have a good one and thank you Dan
Oh yeah two kinds of people
Those who have watched Bob Chapman. Defining Moments and get it
Those who have not watched that video and don’t.
Which are u?
I realize that might be a little irritating, a little bold to present two kinds of people like that.
I also realize when a person watches that video they will say Wow am I glad that irritating smug little fella did not insisting it would benefit me greatly if I took the time to watch this video!
Man am I glad he kept being so sure or else I would still be one of those folks who didn’t know it but didn’t get it!!!!
SP out!!! Think I got a little Little Johnny in me! Hehe
there is a leader nearby in town
who floats on a feather and his crown
He gathered up his praise
He wasted all his days
He turned his team upside of the down
in the spirit of limericking! Cheers. meetings are so cool, nostrils are so scary and self centered is the way to go! lol
LOL… I don’t know if I should laugh or groan… both!
Leaders who gloat are just not leaders
To wit they are just antagonism breeders
Managing people isn’t an easy task
One foot wrong and you have a faux pas!
I love a good fox paw!
On indecisiveness.
I’ll wait for the perfect decision.
‘Cause being right is my personal mission.
I’ve waited so long
All our chances are gone.
Now my whole team holds me in derision.
A fun, interactive post, Dan. Thanks!
KaPow!!!
On the commitment required for success…
There once was a leader name Bucky
who when sucessful, everyone said he was lucky.
They couldn’t see
the hard work that he
committed to to become plucky.
Dan, thanks for a little creative outlet!
Love the limericks but, on a more serious note (!) – your wife is wrong – you can’t learn anything that you don’t know already…
Brilliant limericks
Cute! 🙂
Really?
The three ‘men’ are judged on behavioral traits, the ‘woman’ on her nose?
Ergo – a woman’s managerial value lies in her appearance?
‘Cause if that’s the case I have been investing in the wrong area, like education.
Good stuff. I poke a lot of fun at leadership with a blog called, “Square Wheels and funny captions – The Joke is on Who?” – two parts, really. I like the limericks and maybe I can do some cartoons around them, also.
And, working up another series. We need to continue to poke fun at leadership if we are trying to generate change. It is about teaching caterpillars to fly, and things could be SO much better in organizations. Caterpillars CAN fly, but they need to lighten up!
There was a young leader named Scott
Who knew everything, so he thought
He was never to blame
Unless it brought fame
I do think the man should be shot!
Funny stuff, for sure.
I also like that Navaho saying,
“One cannot awaken someone pretending to be asleep.”
and Haiku –
See the men working, pulling, pushing.
Another winter of un-improvement.
Nothing changes.
Always room for one more…
The old fashioned boss:
There was a young leader called Rick,
Who was fond of the carrot and stick,
But his memory was rotten,
And the carrot forgotten,
So his workers were thoroughly sick.
Love it Keith! thanks for joining in.
Oh yes, Keith – you have the knack, mate.