Reflections from the Bridge-Friedman's Fables

Reflections from "The Bridge"

I. Abstract

The Bridge by Edwin Friedman is a parable from Friedman’s Fables which involves a man on a journey.  During his journey, this man comes upon another man who has wrapped a rope around himself.  The man on the bridge, similar in age and look as the man on a journey, kindly asks for the man on a journey to hold the rope, “for a moment”.  The man on the journey kindly complies to the request “without thought”.  Upon taking the rope the man jumps off the bridge.  Bewildered, the man on the journey asks why the other man jumped.  The man, now dangling off the bridge, exclaims that the man on the journey now is responsible for his life.  As time passes, the man on the journey tries unsuccessfully to get the man who jumped to help him to bring him up, advising he would not be able to hold him for long.  Finally, he tells the man dangling from the bridge that he needs to decide if he will help to bring himself up or choose to fall.  Unwilling to help, the man on the journey releases the rope.  

The man on the journey has had a fair share of experiences in his life, involving success and failures. He strives hard to be successful but faces obstacles in his path to success. He finally could see light at the end of the tunnel where the right opportunity waited for him. The opportunity window was available for a short time only if the man was passionate about it. The man began his journey to grab the opportunity with zeal and which enlivened him. On his route to achieve his goal, he is faced by another obstacle, this time an unknown man who willingly offered his life as a responsibility to him.

The fable is a symbolic representation of leadership skills. The noteworthy aspect of the fable is that it can be perceived in several ways and solely depends on the readers perception. It helps us understand the importance of soft and hard skills required to be an efficient leader. The key lesson from the parable is to realize the right time to "cut the rope" i.e. freeing the burden which limits your potential and is an obstacle on the path to success.

II. Appendix A

1. How do we motivate the unmotivated?

Organizations expend time and money in the development of their employees. Hence, it is vital to understand what motivates them and what their currency is, to ensure they are engaged in their role. By creating a positive work environment individuals are motivated to contribute to the organizational success (McQueery). This can be done by encouraging teamwork and idea sharing or simply ensuring that employees have the necessary tools and information to succeed. In addition, it is important to provide incentives; this can take the form of financial incentives, including bonuses and gift cards or non-financial incentives including extra vacation hours, choice in parking spot, or work space. Moreover, it is important to recognize individuals’ achievements; this can either be extrinsic or intrinsic, but recognition of achievement of small goals, plays a vital role in motivating individuals to continue to contribute towards the long-term goals. Next, it is important to solicit individual’s input. By allowing individuals to have an input in the task, the individual will feel ownership for the outcome. Hence, they will be motivated to complete the task. Lastly, providing professional enrichment can motivate the unmotivated. Routine activities and processes can cause individuals to feel a lack of significance. Thus, they will become stagnant. By providing individuals with additional training, seminars or mentoring, the individual will feel that his development is important to the organization. Through this, job engagement and satisfaction will increase.