Like everyone else, you're likely to be thinking "what the fuck?" But please read on and hopefully all will become clear.
Firstly, forget everything you think you know about pirates, as its likely to be inaccurate from the movies etc.
Now, let me take you back to the golden age of piracy c.1650-1730 and leadership lessons will start to become clear- I hope.
- They created the first global super brand- The Jolly Roger c.200 years before Coca Cola.
- One pirate, one vote and kick-arse diversity statistics- This is included women and non-white pirates, in fact non white pirates made up c.33% of pirate crews (How many business achieve these diversity statistics? Women didn't receive voting parity to men in the UK until 1928 and slavery was not abolished in the British Empire until 1807. Same sex relationships were also largely accepted despite it remaining illegal in the UK until 1967.
- Non-hierarchical structures: The role of the quartermaster was elevated to be on a par with the role of captain. The captain was responsible for the strategy, whilst the quartermaster was responsible for the culture and was the voice of the crew.
- They lived by a pirate code- flexible and fluid, yet rigorous and robust. A system that created consistency but allowed for change. These codes were worked out collaboratively by the crew and were reformulated at the start of every new mission.
- Fair distribution of wealth: Each crew member received one share of any spoils, with senior members two share and the captain and quartermaster three to four shares. Compare this to the current distribution of pay levels between a CEO and a team member! No spoils, no pay also meant true shared interests at all levels.
- Compensation for injuries: A portion of everything they stole was put aside to pay compensation for injuries. It was 200 years later when workplace compensation became law in the UK.
"They struck a blow against a society run badly by a self-interested and self-serving establishment- sound familiar?"
They challenged the establishment, innovated at the margins, incubated their ideas in an open environments and focused on fortune and fairness.