[DFT] Fw: [ChivalryToday] 1 Minute Knightly Manager

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The One-Minute Knightly Manager
By Scott Farrell
©2004, Shining Armor Enterprises
www.ChivalryToday.com

Professionals in the 21st century don't have a corner on the market of
business savvy. While the popularity of books like "The One-Minute
Manager" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" may give the
impression that written guides to effective management are a modern
innovation, the truth is, "how-to" handbooks for being a good manager
have been around since the Middle Ages.

One of these medieval management books is an anonymously authored
volume entitled "Seneschaucy." Like management books today, Seneschaucy
was written for busy professionals: It is concise and to-the-point,
without esoteric philosophy or flowery descriptions. Although it lacks
MBA-style graphs and flow charts, the book describes all of the offices
on a medieval estate (12 in all, including the dairymaid, the carter,
the bailiff, the auditor and the hayward) with advice that is every bit
as practical and applicable as that found between the covers of
management technique books on the shelves today.

Seneschaucy's chapters address the minutiae of the effective daily
operation of a "medieval corporation," including details on preparing
wool for market, establishing accurate bookkeeping procedures, and
estimating pre-harvest crop yields of bread and ale. Most interesting
of all, however, isn't the advice Seneschaucy gives for the workers and
administrators of the medieval estate, but what it has to say about the
lord of the castle - the knight who ruled the land with the authority
of a CEO.

In typically pragmatic terms, Seneschaucy advises the knight how to be
an effective but chivalrous manager of resources and people - you might
even call it "The One-Minute Knightly Manager." Here is what
Seneschaucy has to say about managing by the Code of Chivalry:

"The knight ought to be fair and true in word and deed, he ought to
love God and honesty, and he ought to hate sin, wrong and wickedness.
He ought not to take advice from young men filled with young blood and
ardent desire who have little or no practical knowledge, nor from men
who are too rude or dishonest, from flatterers, mockers or anyone who
can be bribed to give evidence.

"He ought to take advice from men of experience, honest men of mature
age, who have seen much and have wide knowledge, who have been and are
men of honor and distinction, who have never been accused or convicted
for deceit or wrong-doing, and who will not for love or hate, fear,
threats, profit or loss divert from the truth to advise their lord
knowingly to his disadvantage or to taking the wrong course ...

"If he will keep the aforesaid rules any lord will live, a good lord,
honorably of his own and be wealthy and powerful as he may wish without
committing trespass or wrong against anyone."

Although Seneschaucy's chapter regarding "The Office of the Lord" also
contains specific advice on accounting practices and the oversight of
tenant farmers, these simple but universal nuggets of management
technique can be applied to nearly any situation of leadership:

Don't be dishonest or negligent, and don't tolerate others who are.
Seek the company of those you wish to emulate; avoid people who try to
elevate themselves through flattery or manipulation.
Accept direction and valid criticism with grace and respect; have the
courage to evaluate yourself and your own performance candidly.
And most of all, if you conduct yourself ethically and honorably, it's
possible to be both professionally successful and admirably chivalrous.

Senechaucy's knightly advice is an eminently practical reminder that in
the Middle Ages and the modern world alike, whether you're a
middle-manager or an executive director, a trade worker or skilled
professional, a working parent or a part-time coach, the ideals of
chivalry don't need to be reserved for moments of heroism or glory -
they should be put to work each and every day.

(Excerpts of "Seneschaucy" taken from "Walter of Henley and Other
Treatises on Estate Management and Accounting" by Dorothea Oschinsky,
1971, Clarendon Press.)

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ONGOING QUESTS
Part of the goal of the Chivalry Today website is to provide a forum
for others to share their thoughts on chivalry and the knightly
virtues. To that end, all website visitors are invited to contribute
their own thoughts to one of these areas:
Mottos - Share your own original "knightly motto" as a way of
expressing what chivalry means to you;
Stories - If you know someone who qualifies for the title "a knight in
shining armor," share their true story as a Portrait In Chivalry;
Essays - If you've written (or would like to write) a short article
about the Code of Chivalry in the modern world, we welcome your views.
An ever-growing number of "guest essays" can be found on the site.
We also encourage EDUCATORS to utilize these ideas as inspirations for
class projects. If your students have,  or would like to write their
own mottos, stories or essays, please submit them to our website so all
visitors to Chivalry Today can enjoy them.

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WHAT'S NEW?
Visit the Chivalry Today website to read a variety of brand new
articles, including:
- Commentary on Terry Jones' book "Chaucer's Knight"
- An exploration on chivalry in the legal profession
- An excerpt from Professor Leo Braudy's new book, "From Chivalry to
Terrorism"
All featured now at www.ChivalryToday.com

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NOW AVAILABLE: Scott Farrell's audio presentation, "Bringing Chivalry
to Life." This 50-minute CD brings the principles of chivalry and the
Seven Knightly Virtues into the modern world through a variety of
historical quotes (from authors like Geoffroi de Charny, Imad ad-Din
and Howard Pyle) and contemporary observations. Audio tracks include:
- The Modern Melee
- Like Unto King Arthur
- The Knight Manager
- The Mission of Knighthood
Plus six other discussions on the value of Chivalry Today. Order your
copy of this CD at the "Catalog" section of the Chivalry Store - in the
left-hand navigation bar at www.ChivalryToday.com

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Readers are permitted and encouraged to share this article with others
as a way of furthering the understanding of the Code of Chivalry in the
modern world. Scott Farrell's seminars on chivalry and the knightly
virtues are available to businesses, schools and civic organizations
throughout the Southern California area; more information can be found
on our website. Please include all copyright statements and
attributions when forwarding Chivalry Today articles. Copyright 2004
Scott Farrell and Shining Armor Enterprises. Visit our website at
www.ChivalryToday.com .