Beware of Icons

The word icon is from the Greek εἰκών, meaning “image”.  One of the dictionary definitions is, “an object of uncritical devotion”.  We throw this designation around quite a bit, although it is often used with a qualifier.  Ronald Reagan has been called a “Republican Icon”, Hitler was an “Icon of Evil”, and Marilyn Monroe has been tagged a “Cultural Icon”.  Tiger Woods is referred to as an “Icon of Golf”, Kenneth Lay became the “Enron Icon”, and now, of course, Steve Jobs goes into the afterlife as an “iCon”. 

Icon is a hefty moniker for any living person to bear.  It carries a connotation of historical significance.  How can anyone be referred to as an icon and not succumb to the risk of developing a dangerous ego and delusions of grandeur?

Now we come to Joe Paterno, “Icon of College Football”, and arguably the most powerful and popular person at Penn State University.  Paterno fell far and hard from his pedestal last week, when he was implicated in the Sandusky child sexual molestation scandal in Happy Valley.  Paterno failed to follow through and act decisively to assure the safety of children brought into the Penn State athletic facilities, or to do what he could to block the actions of a predator that he counted as a friend.  Why he failed so miserably to do his duty may never be understood.  If you are inclined to defend JoPa, read the 23-page Grand Jury Report and get back to me.

There are lessons to be learned from this tragedy, and I pray they will be learned.  By definition, icons reach a point where they escape reasonable criticism.  In an organizational environment this means that the icon’s followers and beneficiaries have imbibed the Kool-Aid and are feeling the euphoric effects.  They don’t question decisions.  Followers do what they are told, to protect the icon and the surrounding institution.  They seek approval.  No one wants Nirvana to be disrupted.  Everyone is in La-La Land.

At the end of the day, and your career, you need to be able to know that you spoke up and fought for your principles and values.  Someday you might have to take on an icon to make things right.  I bet McQueary wishes he had.