IBM Wild Ducks: The Royal Dissenter

Mr. Buck Rodgers, an amazing IBM executive marketing manager, defined the type of Wild Duck that was known within IBM as a "Royal Dissenter."

​After years of study and experience around Wild Ducks, I often wonder: What is harder:

(1) Being a Wild Duck when the executives around you don't believe in outspoken individuals?

​(2) Maintaining that internal "something," no matter the conditions, that keeps an individual outspoken?

For me it is the latter.

I do believe, though, that IBMers of the 20th Century had an easier time being a wild duck than today's employees. Why? Because in a Watson Sr., Watson Jr., T. Vincent Learson, or Frank T. Cary administration, we knew the corner office had our backs.

​Come hell or high water, they had our backs!

I think 21st Century Royal Dissenters at IBM would be wise to follow Kierkegaard's advice:

"If what the wild goose tried to do is to be commended in any way, then it must above all watch out for one thing--that it hold on to itself. As soon as it notices that the tame geese have any kind of power over it, then away, away in migratory flight."

In simple words: Find another company to work for! Fly away from the tame ducks—geese.

Read about Buck Rodgers "Royal Dissenters"