Silence Calls the Storm

Leadership experience is a funny thing. The more I get…the more I see through the behavior of those that claim to be effective in their roles. They talk it up, yet their choices seem to contradict the rhetoric. It happens in the corporate world, it happens in our personal lives, and it happens to those in public life too.

Too Many Examples

The actions of others, above all else, have shaped how I view the responsibility I have as a member of my organization’s leadership team. 

Sadly, some of the most poignant examples of behavior I've experienced have come from those leaders that preached leadership frequently, yet were absolute failures. Let me share...

- the executive who dropped the f-bomb when he was upset, and threw reports across the conference room table at the team for doing a poor job (when in fact the team was beating the national industry performance average)

- two executives who held an ambush meeting attempting to intimate and discredit another member of the leadership team (when in fact their data was completely wrong and they ended up looking foolish and lost all credibility)

- the executives who secretly tried to undermine a colleague who was clearly the boldest, and most courageous member of the team (their efforts backfired and they were shamed into backing off)

How About You

When you see disgraceful behavior from other leaders what do you do? Is it too scary to stand up to them? Are you worried that you might compromise your own career if you do the right thing? 

Are you so self-absorbed that these issues would only matter if they were happening to you?

Guess what? If you don’t take action, no one will be left to help you when it’s your turn.

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 

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Using the Word

I don’t hear many leaders use it. Somehow it invokes the fear of a radical, self-serving third party. Or it gives the impression that the power so many have worked hard to achieve will be eroded. Whatever the reason, I think it’s a word that should be infused into the contemporary leader’s lexicon.

Words Matter

As I think about how the workforce is changing so rapidly with the use of technology, to generational views, to a completely mobile society it strikes me that expectations are changing faster than we might like. Guess what? Others expectations are not up to us. We need to stop trying to control for these things.

What we do have control of is our power. We’re the “older” ones in the workplace. We have the authority to do so many things (hire, fire, set strategy, allocate resources, etc.) If we use our power to introduce a new way of thinking…literally using new words…we can change the culture of our organizations. 

Don’t believe that one word can make a big difference? Try dropping the f-bomb in every meeting you’re in this week.

How About You

Candidly power is only useful if it is used productively. Sure, you can choose to be an ego-maniac power monger, but you’ll look like a fool and your colleagues and employees will mock you behind your back as they resign in waves.

Instead of looking foolish, try stepping out from the norm and infuse this word into your corporate culture:

Justice.

You might be surprised if you adopted ‘justice' as a core value in your company. The quality of talent you attract and retain might surprise you too.

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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