CEO’s with lions share – worth or waste?

What is the real meaning of ‘lions share’? Do the modern corporate follow the same philosophy/management principle of lions share and if so where and when? Following such management principle really yielding the desired result?

In the pride of lions, the lioness usually hunts the prey. But the dominant lion in the pride will take his share first and only then other members can have their share. Only after parting the ‘lions share’, other members in the pride can even go near the kill. The first and the best portion of the hunt will always be taken by the dominant lion in the pride.

How it is relevant in the corporate world. This philosophy/management is very relevant & pertinent and is widely followed in all most all corporate in the world.

Why lion take its best share first? The evolutionary reason for the above is that the lion being the sole guardian of the pride, has to eat well to protect and safe guard the entire pride as the complete responsibility of protecting the pride rest with the dominant lion. In the best interest of the pride only, the dominant lion is having his ‘lions share’ first.

In the corporate world, the ‘lions share’ of the resource always goes to the CEO or CMD or MD of the organization. Only very small proportion money with reference to the salary of CEO’s would percolate down to others in the organization as their salaries. This is how the salary structure of employees is set in most organization.

The lion in the pride does its job perfectly for the pride. In the event of any conflicts with other territorial groups, lion defends the pride and the cubs. He never looses his strength to his age and fight till death for the sake of the pride. In the event he fails, he relinquishes his power and leaves the pride to the news leader may be with all humility.

This is how the dominant lion justifying in taking its lions share.

What about the CEO’s in the corporate? Do they truthfully justify well for the share they take from the corporate? Are they offering protection and growth to the organization from competition and changing market scenario? How do they deal with people in the corporate? Do they relinquish their position if they fail in their role?

The above series of questions, nature has asked during the creation of many species of animals – especially the lion. The lion is permitted to have his ‘lions share first’ by nature only after establishing the pros and cons to the entire pride.

Time has come; the organization must wake up and learn their lesson from nature and find a justifiable answer to the question of why ‘lions share’ of the turnover of the organization is given to the CEO’s and is it really worth?

The CEO’s are expected to make a difference not by attempting to do things differently, but by sensing the required changes the organization must bring about much before. They should meet time and need perfectly for the organization. They should speak the language of ‘able was I ere I saw Elba’ and blaming the people below as they lack vision and passion.

All those who take ‘lions share’ must do a soul search and must do justice to the pay they receive.

Dr. S Ranganathan