Leading and Leader's Inertia of Success

Leading is undoubtedly a challenging and demanding task. It requires a leader to harmonize the opinions of diverse people and lead them toward a common goal. To be successful in leading, a leader must be open to learning, adapting, and reinventing themselves. However, this is easier said than done, and the biggest impediment to this adoption and reinvention is the leader's inertia of success.

The leader's inertia of success is a dangerous trap that can make leaders complacent and resistant to change. It is a natural tendency to stick to what has worked in the past. This can prevent a leader from adapting to new situations and taking advantage of new opportunities. The leader's inertia of success can lead to stagnation and eventually, failure.

Lateral hires can be particularly susceptible to the leader's inertia of success. Often these leaders may bring with them a set of processes, norms, and subcultures that worked well in their previous organization. However, what worked in the past may not necessarily work in a new environment. Every organization has its unique culture and challenges, and it is essential for leaders to understand and adapt to these differences.

It is essential for leaders to recognize that their personal traits, such as business acumen, strategic thinking, networking, decisiveness, and clarity of thought, played a significant role, coupled with the organization's unique processes, led to their success. Therefore, leaders must focus on developing these personal traits while being open to adapting to new processes and norms that align with the organization's culture.

In conclusion, the leader's inertia of success can be a dangerous trap that prevents leaders from adapting to new situations and taking advantage of new opportunities. Leaders must be self-aware and willing to adapt to new environments and cultures. They must focus on developing their personal traits while being open to learning new processes and norms. By doing so, leaders can overcome the leader's inertia of success and lead their teams and organizations to succeed in an ever-changing business environment.