Sad news this week about the passing of Stan Lee, creator of the Marvel Universe. His unique imagination gave us a world of superheroes with special powers, many of them dedicated to helping ordinary people deal with situations beyond their control.
The best superhero stories go well beyond simple “POW”, “CRASH”, “BANG” and “WALLOP” of early fun-time Batman movies. Many of the greatest tales are parables for everyday life. In these comics and movies we often we witness “ordinary” people doing extraordinary things. They take a stand and make a real difference. When we see such acts in real life we often refer to these people as superheroes-without-capes.
Now many gifted superheroes go to great lengths to conceal their actions, challenges and achievements even from those closest to them. Sometimes it’s because it can seem too big or too much. Sometimes they want to protect their loved ones from worry or concern. This often backfires with spectacular results. In one popular movie, Will Smith played Hancock: a superhero who had become an empty shell of himself, bitter and twisted, feeling unappreciated for his talents and efforts.
To the general public, doctors do extraordinary things. They are often considered in the superhero-without-capes category. But back in the real world, and it’s anti-bullying week (11-16th November). Sadly it seems that every other week there is another notable case of bullying related to doctors and the NHS.
Does it need a superhero to take a stand?
Here’s a link to a video from our new NHS & UK Medical Regulation Video Tutorials.
How effectively are you supporting the superheroes-without-capes who work around you in your team?
Stephen McGuire – Head of Development
