Make the Most of an Experienced Employee: Honor Your Water Carrier

Part 2 of a 3 part series on employee relations; 1 ½-minute read

by Mary Boza Crimmins

What is a water carrier?

Water carriers are an integral part of a team that respects experience, expertise, and growth. They have been with an organization for many years and are “above and beyond” employees who often work behind the scenes. 

From Native American culture to business leadership 

The term water carrier comes from the Native American cultural concept of interconnectedness in leadership. “The tribal water carrier symbolizes the essential nature of all jobs and their interdependence.” (Martha McLeod, Keeping the Circle Strong: Learning about Native American leadership) In Leadership Jazz, Max De Pree, who applied the Native American concept to business leadership, further defines water carriers as team members who “transfer the essence of the institution to new people.” They have firsthand experience of the organization’s evolution. Like water, water carriers are essential for growth.

Honor your water carriers  

Honoring the voice of your water carriers is part of cultivating a culture of wise change. It’s important to understand that a water carrier is not advocating for the status quo. And they are not naysayers lamenting the past and resisting change. In contrast, water carriers are loyal team players. If there’s hesitation about new priorities, it’s due to wanting all factors to be considered first. Or it may be due to poor communication on the part of leadership. 

Looking back to move forward 

Water Carriers have a global perspective of the organization because they have filled many roles and experienced many initiatives. Their longevity gives leaders a unique view of institutional history, leading to better decision-making. A water carrier wants to share the water, not hoard it. 

As with history, if an organization’s decision-makers don’t know the past, mistakes will be repeated. Water carriers should be heard and valued.  Who are your water carriers? What steps can you take to honor them? 

This is part three of my series on employee relations. If you missed the other two parts, here are the links. 

Part 2: How to coach mistake-makers

Part 1: From rogue to team player 

Coming soon:  Emails, ugh! Are you making one of these five email faux pas?

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Success for all organizations hinges on clear communication. The problem is business owners and organization leaders lack the time or skill set to ensure their messages are effective. Crimmins Communications offers professional B2B ghostwriting (copy & content), editing, research, and public speaking coaching.