Breaking the Chains of Tradition

Last night, the University of Washington won the PAC 12 Championship.

And with the swiftness of a "Thanos" snap:

THE PAC-12 NO LONGER EXISTS        

And people are mad about this…..

The primary complaint references the NCAA and Conference's "Football Heritage and Tradition."

But I'm not mad. Paradoxically, while I'm a huge college football fan and love the history of the rivalry games, I'm philosophically excited about this change.

The truth is:

Past greatness doesn't guarantee present success, and the PAC 12's failure to evolve its competitive structure, media rights, and business model led to this point.

But let's delve deeper:

A shared leadership pitfall and one of the most abused phrases in the workplace is:

?"Because we've always done it this way."

We've all heard this said before, and this phrase exemplifies the logical fallacy:

"Appeal to Tradition"

Where a person or group attempts to persuade others towards a specific point of view by relying on emotions, reverence, and respect for a tradition or heritage rather than actual facts.?

I've seen this often:

Where a process or practice is outdated, inefficient, or ineffective.

Yet, others insist that it remains in place to "preserve the tradition."?

I'm all for honoring time-tested traditions that hold their value, but many things are being misclassified as traditions and heritage simply for comfort and the fear of change.

Here are seven prime examples that occur in the field of "Leadership Development":

• One-Size-Fits-All Training: Providing the same leadership development programs for all employees, regardless of their needs or aspirations.
• Hierarchy-Based Leadership: Focusing exclusively on grooming individuals for top-down leadership roles without recognizing the value of leadership at all levels.
• Classroom-Based Learning: Relying solely on classroom training instead of incorporating experiential, off-site, and on-the-job learning.
• Leadership Training in a Vacuum: Isolating leadership development from everyday work instead of integrating leadership skills into daily tasks.
• Overemphasis on Seniority: Believing that leadership experience is solely tied to organizational tenure rather than potential and skills.
• Inflexible Mentorship Programs:?Implementing rigid mentorship structures that don't adapt to individual needs or interests.
• Ignoring Digital Skills:?Neglecting to incorporate digital literacy and technology skills into leadership development, which are increasingly important in the modern workplace.

By strategically challenging the "Appeal to Tradition" fallacy:

We can revolutionize our leadership development practices to be more personalized, inclusive, and adaptable — and subsequently, we can better prepare our people for the challenges of the modernized 21st-century leadership environment.?

If you enjoyed this article, check out my latest book:

"Too Cool for Mentorship"

I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic:

• Have you ever experienced the logical fallacy of "Appeal to Tradition" in your workplace?
• What are your best practices for creating a leadership development program for the workforce of tomorrow?

About Me

As the architect and driving force behind Pocket Sized Leadership ? LLC, Noel DeJesus has carved a niche in the leadership sphere with his innovative, bite-sized guidance materials. An esteemed author and decorated combat veteran, Noel leverages his extensive military background—spanning over twenty years and several combat tours—to infuse real-world, tested leadership principles into the development space.

His series of concise leadership publications are tailored to the rhythm of today's professionals—delivering streamlined, potent insights designed to seamlessly blend into and enhance their day-to-day leadership practice. Noel's writing is clear-cut and to the point, distilling complex concepts into actionable tactics that leaders can apply on the fly to foster growth and drive success.

Noel holds a Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma, a testament to his academic and practical prowess. His military tenure is distinguished by honors such as the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge, underscoring his commitment to excellence and the high-caliber insights he offers to leaders in any arena.

Learn More: www.noeldejesus.com