Leadership is a Destination

Myth 5: Leadership is destination

Illusion:

Markus is a prominent tower of strength as an executive leader. His many years of experience exude stability, and his unmoving leadership approach is founded on proven structures that have stood the test of any outside turbulence. Since “arriving” in his role almost 11 years ago, he has maintained a durable and secure environment for his people. His “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude has served him well over the years.

Reality:

While the company is indeed still standing, productivity and growth have stagnated. New competitors keep entering the market with more modern philosophies surrounding their business model, corporate culture, and technology.

Additionally, it has become increasingly difficult to find and retain new, qualified talent. What’s more, top performers have been leaving to join more innovative and forward-looking companies that embrace change and foster creativity.

What’s going on:

Having worked very hard to climb to the top of his organization, upon arriving, Markus believed he had reached his destination. This belief led to a somewhat complacent mindset, and he stopped seeking opportunities for learning and personal growth. This resulted in him becoming increasingly disconnected from industry trends, new approaches, and the evolving needs of his team and organization.?

By approaching his role as a destination, Markus became rigid in his decision making, relying on outdated strategies and failing to recognize the changing requirements of his environment.

What now?

·?????? Acknowledge that leadership is a life-long journey of continuous learning

and improvement – it is never “finished”.

·?????? Understand that just because someone has reached the top, doesn’t mean

their ideas are infallible nor need to be challenged and questioned regularly.

·?????? Recognize the importance of listening to your employees while empowering

them to contribute their ideas.

·?????? Continue attending conferences, networking, and learning from others in

and outside your industry – stay curious.

·?????? Keep developing on a personal level.

·?????? Remain humble.

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Inspiration: The downfall of the company Blockbuster, the former video-rental giant.This?static?mindset,?seeing?leadership?as?a?destination,prevented?them?from?recognizing?and?capitalizing?on?new?opportunities,?ultimately resulting in their?decline.