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5 Temptations of a Leader

Written by: Geoff Flemming

Article Overview: Leadership can be simple and also highly complex. Whilst it can be learnt it develops over time with application and making mistakes!

5 Temptations of a Leader

I was reminded recently of the pressure facing CEO's, managing directors and managers in dealing with issues and making decisions. Moreso than ever these days they face the pressure of making clear and hopefully well grounded decisons - in ever decreasing timeframes.

Patrick Lencioni refers to the temptations that leaders face as they get caught up in the details and complexities of business. Often when often too close to the action it becomes easy to lose clarity and often confuse valuable counsel from peers and subordinates as criticism!

It is often easier to resent and resist the short term pain of change and not being open to new ways and new ideas. Being a leader can have a number of pitfalls:

1. Choosing position over results - The desire for title and position and choosing personal gain over results. The need to protect ego or reputation - this is the most dangerous temptation. The focus on career and status causes complacency and causes results to slip. Also rewards tend to go to those who protect your ego rather than get results. Publicly commit to outcomes and evaluate success based upon measurable results

2. Choosing popularity over accountability - The need to be liked and popular by staff at the expense of holding them accountable. It is the feeling that affection and friendship is more important than decisiveness and managing performance. Clarify expectations up front and 'be straight' in dealing with behaviour and performance.

3. Choosing certainty over clarity - Discomfort about making decisons without having perfect information. This can sometimes be a challege for highly analytical people. Issues are left to hang ambiguously without making clear and timely decisions. So timely decisions will wait rather than being wrong! The inevitable outcome is underwhelming results. Be decisive and set deadlines for making decisons.

4. Choosing harmony over conflict - The failure to achieve buy-in of new ideas for fear they might be challenged. The challenge in maintaining harmony is that there is little room for full self expression. Without active participation there is no benefit of other people's ideas and interactions. Draw out differing opinions and engage in passionate discussion about key issues.

5. Choosing invulnerability over trust - When leaders do not want to be seen to be making a mistake or afraid of being wrong or losing their status. With invulnerabilty and the failure to 'be human' comes low trust as team spend more energy trying not to make mistakes then they do in getting results. Acknowledge your weaknesses and mistakes - and let everyone see your human side!

Extraordinary leaders are authentic and have deep founded values and a strong sense of purpose. The most compelling source for strong leaders is spiritual, the energy derived from connecting to deeply held values and a purpose beyond one's self interest. Purpose creates a destination!

With vulnerability comes trust and healthy conflict
With conflict comes passionate discussion and absolute clarity
With clarity comes accountabilty
With accountability comes results
Extraordinary results come from extraordinary leaders who clearly understand that change is always powered from the top down!

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Article Tags: accountability, decision making, Leadership



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