The Little Red Hen Taught Us All How to Get Results!
Chad B. Rawlings
Passionate Revenue Results Focused Leader | Co-Author of "Results Revolution" | Gen AI Sales Leader & Expert | Digital Acumen Coach | Public Speaker | Engineering a Difference by Changing People's Lives, One at a Time!
The Red Hen Principle for Business: A No-Nonsense Guide to Getting Results
Let’s talk about The Little Red Hen. You remember the story right? The hen finds some wheat and then asks her friends, “Who’s going to help me plant this?” The lazy dog, the sleepy cat, and the relaxed mouse all say, “Not me.” So, the hen goes ahead and does all the work herself—plants the wheat, harvests it, grinds the flour, and bakes the bread. When the bread’s ready, suddenly everyone wants in. But the hen? She says, “Nope. I did the work, so I get the reward.”
It’s a simple story, but the lesson runs deep. In business, this is what I call the Red Hen Principle—a straightforward, practical approach to leadership and success. Here are five key takeaways from this classic that every professional should keep in mind.
1. Own the Outcome
The biggest lesson here is about ownership. The hen didn’t wait for a committee to form or for someone else to step up. She saw what needed to be done, took control, and made it happen. In business, it’s the same. It’s not enough to just do your tasks and call it a day. You’ve got to own the outcome. The best leaders and teams know that success isn’t just about what you’re assigned—it’s about taking responsibility for the result or results. Getting the job done matters!
2. Be Proactive
The hen didn’t sit around waiting for someone else to give her permission or instructions. She saw what needed doing and then simply got to work. This is all about being proactive. If you’re always waiting for direction or approval, you’ll never move fast enough to make progress that the business requires and needs. In the business world, I have found it’s the people who take initiative, who spot opportunities and then find a way to act on them. These are the people who drive the biggest impact.
3. Reciprocity: Everyone Contributes
One of the smartest lessons in this story is about reciprocity. The hen’s friends wanted the bread, but none of them wanted to help make it. That’s not how it works in any successful organization. It’s give-and-take—everyone contributes to the goal, and everyone shares in the reward. Here is the secret, when people understand how their efforts connect to the bigger picture, they’re more likely to be fully engaged. The Red Hen Principle is about fostering that culture of shared responsibility so the required results get achieved.
4. Push Through Obstacles
Another big takeaway is persistence. The hen didn’t let the fact that no one else was helping stop her from getting what she wanted. She just kept going. Think about it... In business, you’re going to face may roadblocks. Maybe the market’s tough, or maybe the team isn’t all-in yet. But if you’re personally committed to the goal, you just push through. Persistence is what separates teams that succeed from those that don’t. The Red Hen Principle is a reminder that progress often requires pushing through the rough patches, forging ahead against the grain, never letting roadblocks stay in the way of success.
5. Reward Results, Not Just Effort
Finally, let’s talk about rewarding results. The hen did the work, so she got the bread. Hmmmm I can smell the fresh baked bread now! In business, effort is great, but at the end of the day, it’s results that matter. You can put in all the hours you want, but if you’re not moving the needle, it’s not enough. The Red Hen Principle teaches us that those who deliver results should be rewarded accordingly. It’s how you create a culture where people are motivated to perform at their best, not just some of the time, but all of the time!
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Final Thoughts
The Red Hen Principle is a no-nonsense approach to business success:
It’s not rocket science, but this philosophy works. Apply these principles in your business, and you’ll see your team step up, stay engaged, and get things done.
Like the Little Red Hen, make sure you’re focused on what matters most, and when you get everyone on board to help bake the bread , you’ll get to enjoy the rewards!
Quote from Results Revolution (authored by: Craig Hickman, Craig Morgan & Chad Rawlings)
“Achieving business success is less about managing how we want people to act and think and feel in order to deliver the desired results and more about managing how we want people to act and think and feel about the desired results themselves.”
Craig Hickman @craig morgan @thereciprocusgroup
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