When Leaders Decide To Turn Around
When a leader decides to repent (I know that term conjures images of a fire and brimstone preacher, but it simply means "to turn around") it's a great thing. It signifies an awakening and a desire to change. I applaud leaders in, and out, of the corporate world who are courageous enough to make this type of move.
Now for the painful dangerous part.
As much as I would love to tell you that all of the followers will applaud when a leader turns around, I can't. There will be opposition and resistance to the leaders new-found awakening. The why question is multi-layered, but one big answer can be found in the history of the leaders direction and actions. For example, if the leader has for years only praised you when senior management was around, then it's a sign of career posing. It takes time (a lot of it) for people to accept and believe in the change from counter-genuine to authentic.
The dangerous part is found in the leader who gives into the temptation of giving up because of skepticism on the part of their followers. Our culture likes results fast. But the leader should not expect speed here. If the leader can set the expectations appropriately, then the chance of perseverance grows markedly. The take-away here is, don't give up if you believe in the "turn around."
Make the decision to turn around…you won't regret it.
Answer The Why Question
You need to ask the "why question"-sooner rather than later.
Here's why:
- All the success in the world will mean nothing without answering the why question.
- Clients feel uneasy with organizations and individuals who haven't answered the why question.
- Eventually the bloom fades, true beauty is rrevealed when the why question has been answered.
- Truth can be found in those who've answered the why question.
- Your organization will change the world when it answers the the why question.
- Answering the why question creates the right type of urgency.
- You'll find out if you're really an authentic leader, when you answer the why question.
Processed Leadership vs. Organic Leadership
The Power Of A Great Life
Doing The Right Thing
I read once that Nelson Mandela could have been released from that South African prison a lot earlier, if he would have sworn not to speak out about the evils of apartiheid once released.
Got me thinking…
Doing the right thing was never meant to be easy because of the following:
- Greatness only allows those who can do the right thing to enter.
- If it were easy, then…
- Like the fields, tilling is essential and it hurts.
- It needs to be built, and building implies pain.
- Life and order depend on it.
What would you add to the list?
Twisting Fate
I can't remember exactly how many times Thomas Edison failed as he tried to bring his light bulb idea to life. Was it a hundred failed experiments? Maybe it was a thousand. Regardless, he failed multiple times.
This post really isn't about overcoming failure, though that could be helpful. I really want to explore the mindset of having a willingness to stumble, a willingness to be the fool, the willingness to launch something most in the herd don't see nor understand.
I think we're way to willing to accept dime-store imitations (you fill in the blank here) when it comes to creative and inspiring leaders. And by the way, creative and inspiring leaders are the types of leaders with substance and reality backing them up. I'm not referring to a leader of a three-ring-circus or some executive who pulls out talking points from 5 years ago.
I'm not sure we recognize authentic when we see it.
Preserving your rep. at the expense of something given to you by heaven is foolish. Your mortgage, 401K, bonuses or a nice fat promotion won't be there for you in the long run. Those are temporary states that can change in a moment. We know this to be true, whether we're willing to admit it or not.
Could it be that Edison was not so special? What if everyone was supposed to pursue an end, even if it meant repeated failure? What separated Edison from his herd was his willingness to take the step of twisting fate even if he didn't know where it would ultimately lead. I define twisting fate as someone who acts on faith, realizing that the final product/outcome will resemble a mosaic more than a picture-perfect portrait.
This is hard work that many turn away from.
One Question For Your CEO
If your could only ask your CEO one question, it should be the following:
"What are you doing to improve your skills and your character?"
If the answer only covers the former, then "danger, Will Robinson."
More than likely he or she is running your organization into the ground. It may not happen immediately, but it's happening like atrophy.
Don’t Make Excuses
A few thoughts ruminating through my head tonight:
- Is your organization bureaucratic?
- Is your organization run like a cult?
- Is your organization bloated?
- Is your organization relying on cutting expenses to give the appearance of growth?
- Is your organization paying you for your time or your results?
If the answer is yes to any of the above, then summon the courage and be creatively discontent. Point out what's wrong and be outspoken (in a professional/respectful manner) about how to create a new paradigm.
By the way, this only works if you're an asset. Mediocrity earns you no rights.
What Marketing Can’t Fix
Here are some things marketing can't fix:
- Leaders who wear masks
- Followers that have lost faith
- A culture broken from the start
- Unwillingness to change
- Organizations that don't put the customer first-really
- A salesforce only focused on sales
- An organization that doesn't aspire to something greater than last years results
- Apathy
- Wounded clients
- Exhausted faux-marketing techniques