The Tragedy of the Commons for Leaders
Build a Blueprint for Ethical Leadership
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”
— Ryunosuke Satoro
The Tragedy of the Commons for Leaders
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
Thought leader and author of InSideOut Coaching Joe Ehrmann believes “To be a better coach or leader, you have to be a better you.” Transformational leaders take care of themselves so they can help others, because they know leadership and coaching is about others, it’s not about you. This doesn’t mean leading others should not and cannot be fulfilling and rewarding – on the contrary. Those who lead with purpose know it can be life-changing.
How do coaches and leaders balance self-interests with the well-being of others? Every day we are faced with challenges that test us. And our values … our sense of responsibility, ethics, and integrity. A classic example used to test the balance of self and others is a scenario known as the Tragedy of the Commons.
In 19th century England, villagers would share a common pasture for grazing livestock. At first, this system worked well; each villager benefited from the shared pasture. However, as the population grew and the demand for grazing space increased, people began to act in their own self-interest, deciding to graze more animals than their fair share. Their rationale was simple: “If I don’t take advantage, someone else will.”
The result of this myopic behavior was overgrazing. The pasture became depleted, and soon there was not enough grass for any of the villagers’ livestock. When leaders prioritize personal gain over collective responsibility, they jeopardize the shared resources that sustain them all.
This is why those who lead others must embody a service to others mindset. Selfish interests may fuel quick wins and early gains, but it is not sustainable.
So, how can today’s leaders avoid the Tragedy of the Commons on their teams?
Prioritize Ethics and Morals. As leaders, our decisions must reflect our values and establish a clear moral compass to follow. When we lead with integrity, we set the standard for others to follow.
Build a Culture of Collective Responsibility. The villagers’ failure to protect their shared space gives a great example of the need to collaborate. As coaches and leaders, the environment we create must be guided by a shared vision of teamwork and mutual responsibility.
Think Long-Term. The villagers acted without considering the future consequences of their actions, which led to a collective loss. Are we making decisions that benefit us today but jeopardize our future?
Social responsibility, ethics, and integrity are vital to successful leadership. By leading ourselves, we can more successfully lead others – for the long term. In leadership, it’s not about being served. It’s about serving others.
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.”
— Potter Stewart
Connecting this quote to the story. The story explores how the villagers' individual rights to graze as many cattle as they wished led to the collective demise of their shared resource, showing the need to prioritize ethical considerations over mere self-interest.
Chasing Influence tip: Promote reflective practices that allow team members to learn from both successes and failures.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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©Troy Urdahl, 2024