Superman in the Executive Suite: The Hidden Weakness of Top Performers

Let me tell you about John. God, I still remember the fire in his eyes when he first walked into my office. This guy was the poster-child of success. He wore a sharp suit, had a killer smile, and an energy that could light up New York City. He'd just landed a VP position at some big-time international company, and he was on top of the world.

But there was a storm brewing, and John had no idea it was about to hit him like a steam roller.

You see, I've worked with countless "Supermen" like John over the years. These are the folks who burn so bright you think they'll never burn out. They're brilliant, they're unstoppable, they're... well, they think they're invincible. And that's where the trouble begins.

What is the one thing that can bring Superman down? Kryptonite? That’s why we all need to know what will bring us down. In terms of Superman, Kryptonite is nature, and nature is the one true Superman - nothing can bring it down. Do you know what your kryptonite is?

Now back to John and his kryptonite? A boss from hell. I'm talking about the kind of leader who could make Gordon Ramsay look like a teddy bear. But did that stop our Superman? Nope! He was determined to prove himself.??

So what does he do? He hops on a plane to India, ready to dazzle his new team and show this boss exactly what he's made of. The passion, the drive, it was a sight to behold. You could practically see the cape flowing behind him as he boarded that flight.

But here's the thing about being a Superman: sometimes when you're flying so high, you forget that you can fall hard and fast!

Halfway across the world, John's body betrayed him. Shingles. That’s right, Shingles! Can you believe it? All that stress, all that pressure he put on himself, it came crashing down on him in the most painful way possible.

When he called me, I barely recognized his voice. This titan of industry, this unstoppable force, was reduced to a whisper. "I've failed," he said, and my heart literally broke for him.

I had to set him straight. "Listen to me, John," I said, with a voice filled with compassion, "You haven't failed. You've just fallen into the Superman trap. You've been so busy trying to be invincible that you forgot all about being human."

There was a long pause. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head. Then, a quiet admission: "Well, I can't even lift my head off the pillow now."

"I know, buddy," I said, my voice softening. "But here's the thing, you don't need to be a Superman. Not for your boss, not for your team, not for anyone. You know why? Because being you is enough. It's more than enough!"

"But that’s what they hired me to be," he protested, a flicker of that old fire returning to his voice.

"Yeah, she did. But you didn't sign up to be a punching bag. You signed up to be a leader. And let me share a secret with you: real leadership isn't about being invulnerable. It's about being authentic."

But you know what? Even Superman takes off the cape sometimes. I mean, can you imagine him in the office, using x-ray vision to find a jam when the copier is not printing? Not exactly front-page news, right?

John's story isn't a one in a million story. I've seen this play out more times than I can count, in corner offices from New York to Denmark. These high-fliers? They're not invincible. They're human, just like the rest of us.??

The crazy thing is, it's often when they're flat on their backs that these corporate superheroes find their real strength. It's like the mask slips, the cape falls off, and suddenly, there's a real person there. And let me tell you, that person is usually way more interesting than the superhero act they've been putting on.

Last I heard, John was back at it. Not leaping tall buildings, mind you, but taking it one step at a time. And you know what? He's doing just fine. Better than fine, actually. He's doing great.

Maybe the real superpower isn't about being invincible. Maybe it's about being okay with not being invincible all the time. About being human, flaws and all. Now that's a thought that gets me excited. Because if that's true, well... maybe we're all superheroes, just waiting for our moment to shine.?

Turning Struggles into Strengths

Melinda Fouts, Ph.D., is an executive coach. She coaches a range of clients-those in transition, those needing a thought partner, and those needing more tools in their toolbox. Her experience as a practicing psychotherapist allows her to discover her clients’ blind spots, which helps them focus on improving their communication and management skills.?

Melinda is in Carbondale, Colorado. You can reach her at 970-274-3130 or via email. You can get on her calendar here.