In a crisis, we look to a firefighter to lead us. In a process or profit maximization, we look for a steady analytic type. Which are you? For your organization, do you have the right leadership style?– It depends on the challenges you are facing.
Wow, that is tough! Since we don’t have control of the waves of life we are riding, we need to be very self-aware and environment-aware to be successful. Think of it like surfing. If you haven’t done it, you have certainly seen it. Sets of waves come in at different heights, speeds and frequencies. There may be rip tides that pull in one direction, the wind may be blowing in the opposite direction. And, competitors are trying to take the best ride first.
When we do this as an individual competitor, we have to be the best generalist to succeed. When we do this as a team, we may be able to pair the rider with their best specialty. Small companies look for generalists, big companies can specialize more.
What does this mean for you? Take a deep look at yourself. You may be at the top of your organization and holding the team back. Is your ego pushing you to make the wrong decisions for the long term? Are you creating fires (last minute emergencies) that are unnecessary? Or, are you delaying decisions because you don’t (and may never) have all the information you need to make a perfect choice?
Step one is to look at the world today and analyze what success will look like going forward.
Step two is to look at yourself and compare your leadership style with what the company needs to make that a happy future.
Step three is to look at your team. Do you have the right people in the right places to ride all those waves we see out there, and the skills to navigate those we don’t know about yet?
You don’t have to figure this out by yourself. Ask your Board of Advisors, ask your Vistage Board, bring in good and wise consultants. And, listen. Our biggest enemies can reside in our own heads.
Interested in Vistage?
image courtesy of https://www.bahamas.com/things-do/surfing