In the crowded history of global leaders, some names fade away despite their enduring significance. Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, is one of those figures for many Americans. But thanks to Sara Causey’s new biography, Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld, this overlooked statesman is stepping back into view. We caught up with Sara to discuss why Hammarskjöld matters now more than ever.
Who was Dag Hammarskjöld, and why do you think he’s largely forgotten in the United States today?
This type of question is difficult to answer because I have so many responses! Dag was gentle, sweet, and polite, yet had the heart of a lion. He didn’t lead through shouting, bullying, or bombast. He was really proof that a well-mannered introverted unicorn could step into a highly public role and absolutely define it. Now, in terms of a more textbook answer, Dag was the second Secretary-General of the UN. He inherited some dysfunction from his predecessor and because of Dag’s reserved demeanor, a number of delegates assumed he’d be a meek, pliable fellow they could push around. The joke was on them because Dag always voted his conscience, and he took every word of his oath of office seriously. He was not a paper-shuffling flunky or a milquetoast coward. Dag was all over the newspapers in the 50s and early 60s. In terms of why he’s forgotten now, to be blunt, I believe there are vested interests who like it that way. Dag stood for peace, decolonization, self-determination, equality, and service. There are leaders and organizations in this world who tout the same general principles but don’t live them out. We must remember that Smedley Butler proclaimed that war is a racket and that’s true. It’s a highly lucrative racket.
What inspired you to write Decoding the Unicorn?
I discovered Dag’s story in a backwards sort of way. I was watching one of Oliver Stone’s documentaries about JFK when the bizarre details of Dag’s death in an “accidental” plane crash were mentioned. I sat in disbelief like, “Wait a minute. What? How have I never heard this?” So I wanted to learn more about whodunit and why. When I started asking who Dag was as a person and what his life was like as opposed to focusing on his murder, that’s when everything changed. I discovered a truly wonderful, amazing man and I couldn’t bear to see his legacy thrown on the ash heap of history. It’s all well and good, I guess, for academics to wax philosophical about Dahg Hammerhoeld and write tomes for themselves, but the average American is never going to read any of that. I felt such a wellspring of passion to do this for Dag – to give a space for the beautiful human to truly be seen. I’m fortunate enough to be the vehicle for it.
In your research, what did you uncover about Hammarskjöld’s leadership style that makes him especially relevant in today’s world?
Well, we live in an age of loudness, vitriol, and braggadocio. We see it overtly in the political sphere all the time. But it exists in the corporate world, too. When I was writing the book, every self-professed introvert I interviewed had at least one horror story of how they were treated like a second-class citizen in the workplace because of their introversion. I certainly have my own nightmare tales from my career, too. Here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be that way! To give a concrete example, Dag instituted coffee hours where employees could come in with no fear of reprisal and say whatever they wanted to, whether it was a compliment, a criticism, a suggestion, or just a general gripe. He also asked each person how they wanted to be managed. This kind of thing should be Standard Operating Procedure in the corporate world, yet Corporate America lionizes extroverted managers and ridiculous teambuilding activities that don’t actually bring any team together cohesively. It’s absurd.
How do you think Dag Hammarskjöld’s legacy can inspire a new generation of leaders, both in the U.S. and globally?
One of my readers wrote to me recently and said he had recommended Decoding the Unicorn to several people he knew in leadership roles who could benefit from it. I found that very touching. A number of things come to mind: Leadership doesn’t have to be loud and aggressive to be effective. Introverts and HSPs can and should pursue leadership roles if they want to. Diversity in companies and in the public square must also include diversity of thought, i.e., we need to quit with these echo-chamber environments. Managers need to confer with employees on a regular basis and be accountable.
If someone knows nothing about Dag Hammarskjöld, what’s the one thing you hope they take away after reading your book?
I hope, like me, they see a precious soul whose legacy should not be forgotten. Another reader wrote to me and said that after he finished the book, he missed Dag. The next day, he found himself wishing he could go back to Dag’s world and spend more time with him. I was moved to tears. And I thought, “This. Exactly this.”
You can purchase Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld on Amazon by clicking here.
