In the creativity corner of the MBS Cafe last week something stirred. Young Alex was photographing the historic pictures on the walls. Paul was trying to persuade Peter to be in two places at the same time (only possible to those skilled in the dark arts of second life and social media).

I was wrestling with the big leadership question of the week. Who was likely to be in his job longer, Adam Crozier of the Royal Mail, or Rafa Benitez of Liverpool Football club?

I was wrestling with the big leadership question of the week. Who was likely to be in his job longer, Adam Crozier of the Royal Mail, or Rafa Benitez of Liverpool Football club? Perhaps I should add that it is no more than mere coincidence that Mr Crozier had previously held a major job with The Football Association.

I know that my learned friends might prefer the question to be addressed within a carefully constructed research methodology. I will stick to a more discursive treatment.

Mr Benitez’s team has suffered from injuries, losses on the field, and departure of key players. Worse, he has received a formal endorsement from his employers that his job is safe. It is part of football black humour to assume that any leader offered such an endorsement is far from safe in the job. His team faced one of those crunch matches over the weekend.
Recently the CEO of Liverpool FC gave Rafa that dreaded endorsement.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has been handed long-term job assurances by the club’s managing director Pressure has been mounting following a miserable run of four successive defeats. But Christian Purslow told Sportsweek: “Liverpool are on a long-term journey and you do not do that by worrying about short term results. Rafa Benitez is absolutely central to that long-term plan.”

We will never know whether that would have survived a beating from the team’s bitter rivals Manchester United.

As it happened Liverpool won quite comfortably. As I write, Liverpool players are secuing to swine flu and further injuries threatening their season and Rafa’s survival.

Turning to the Royal Mail, we see that Mr Crozier has been accused of slumbering while his company is sinking into irretrievable strategic trouble and industrial relations conflicts. He and his team also have a crunch match with the rampant forces of the Workers Communication Union. In a BBC interview Mr Crozier rejected accusations of poor leadership

Mr Crozier denied accusations that he was taking a back seat in the continuing dispute. He said he was not involved in the direct talks with the union, because his focus was instead on talking to affected customers. He also denied that he was taking any direction from the government. “Of course I have been keeping them [government ministers] up to date. “But it is complete nonsense to say they are pulling the strings.”

The fate of these leaders may be settled by factors outside their control. But there may be indicators of the strength of the Limpet factor in each case.

Limpets have a biological advantage conferred by their ability to resist efforts to detatch them, even under tough environmental conditions.

You could argue that Rafa has a high Limpet factor due to the penalty clauses which would be triggered on his dismissal. In contrast, the costs of Adam Crozier’s removal are unlikely to be such a consideration for his employers, or for stakeholders from the Pension Fund lobbies.

For what it’s worth, I suspect that both leaders are protected in the short-term for reasons unconnected with their oversall leadership performance and qualities. In marketing terms it may have more to do with having a convincing exit strategy. But the end of the football season and the date of the next General Election are likely to occur around the same time. Hmm.

Free Trade is designing poll systems for its subscribers. In the meanwhile you can take part in a quick unscientific poll by going to the Leaders we deserve blog site.