On this day in leadership history in 1912, fifteen women who worked at the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia were seen dancing the “Turkey Trot” on their lunch break. The Turkey Trot was a fast-paced ragtime dance that originated in African American communities. Alas, Edward Bok, editor of the “Ladies Home Journal,” witnessed the dancing while at the Curtis offices and insisted the women be fired.
What’s the leadership lesson? Honorable leaders know not to make snap judgments. They gather the facts, and then deal with the issue.
The Turkey Trot Dance – Wikipedia