The difference - good or bad - one leader can make?

Over and over again, I am surprised by the impact one person can have on a team or an entire organization and in particular by the speed this effect takes place. I have seen examples in multinational enterprises, where the appointment of a new CEO resulted in a change of atmosphere within only a few weeks. This occurred not only with the people close to the CEO, but also with people who had never even met de new CEO, and in parts of the company thousands of miles away from the head office!

It is not that simple to indicate how, and under which conditions this powerful effect takes place. Without any doubt, these leaders radiate a very strong energy, which triggers others to change their behavior. True great leaders don’t seem to do anything special for it: their influence is of such strength that they immediately attract attention and stimulate change.

Although one could think that this kind of charism is innate, this is only partly true. While some seem to have a more natural inclination to pursue a leadership role than others, this particular talent does not differ strongly from any other: in order to reach the top, you will have to develop your talents. Otherwise, you will be outstripped by others who diddevelop their leadership skills, even when they have less talent.

But either way, the fact is that leaders can have a huge impact on organizations. This is both a great quality, as well as a significant risk. While the positive effect of a strong leader can be immense, inadequate leadership can have far-reaching and negative consequences for the entire organization. Therefore, it is of imminent importance to always be aware of the potential impact of a new leader.

Any organization looking for a new leader, must carefully identify what kind of leader is desired to realize change. In such a complicated process, it is definitely helpful to include the fresh perspective of an expert who deals with such issues on a daily basis.

Paul W.J.Huiskens - Senior Partner N2Growth - +31655121472