Becket and compliance

Henry II made Thomas Becket, his friend, Archbishop of Canterbury, hoping no doubt that Becket would follow Henry’s will. Becket did not.

Neil made me CEO of AB Automotive in 1996 expecting me to carry on as he did. I did not. In many ways, I did not follow Neil’s way but set my own course, did things differently and this led to months and months of conflict. He gave me a very poor assessment after 6 months. There was a box in which I was allowed to make my own comments. I just said, ‘Mr Rodgers has not judged my effectiveness objectively. He has simply judged me according to whether or not I did it his way.’

I just carried on in my way and eventually it worked out and we are friends. Henry and Becket did not and Becket was murdered. Unlike me though, Becket was later canonised.

Simple lesson here. However much you love and admire your successor, never ever expect them to do it your way for by virtue of the very quality of the abilities you admired in them, they will do it their way. Accept it.