Breathing Life into the Walking Dead

Image source by David Wagner

Leaders with nowhere to grow are blind, self-indulgent fools. They’re the walking dead.

Every time you know more than those around you, growth stops – death begins.

I spent most of my early leadership years believing I was someone I wasn’t. I felt smarter and more skilled than I actually was. Others were the problem, not me. I repeated ineffective behaviors because I was “right.”

Those who focus on changing others while neglecting their own growth, become the walking dead.

Leaders who aren’t developing leadership skills believe they’ve arrived. Sound dangerous?  It’s worse than dangerous; it’s zombie land. Unleash growth by feeling dissatisfaction with your current leadership skills.

Dissatisfaction with others is easy.
Dissatisfaction with self, stings.

Forget balance, it’s for weaklings and milquetoasts. Jump overboard when it comes to growing your leadership skills.

1. Observe yourself. Imagine you’re floating in the corner of your office invisibly watching. Monitor interactions. Observe responses from others. Are you inspiring?
2. Serve others so others can serve others. Growth happens when you help others grow. Enabling “others to serve others” requires humility. Share your skills. Provide opportunities for others, don’t take them for yourself. “Serving others so they can serve others” means helping them do things you easily do.
3. Take personal assessments. My leadership coach, Bob Hancox, recently gave me the ProD Leadership assessment. I recommend it.
4. Grow content with discontent. Growth is on the other side of average. Mediocre leaders fear letting go of average.
5. Personally own your aspirations for exponential impact. Just say it! Don’t hang your head in false humility. Tell someone you want to matter. Embrace your ache for meaning, don’t snuff it out.

Life always means growth. What isn’t growing is dead.

What prevents leaders from growing?

How can leaders grow their own leadership skills and potential?

Moving Toward the Truth

Dishonest leaders lie to cover up, manipulate, and protect their image. Deceptive strategies range from false humility – the subtlest form of arrogance – to telling people what they want to hear.

All deceptions begin with cowardly self-interest. Lying is fearful posturing for personal advantage. For example, we don’t want to look dumb so we pretend we know. In so doing, organizations and leaders remain dumb.

I asked Dennis N.T. Perkins, author of, Leading at the Edge, what surprised him about leadership. “The courage it takes,” he replied. Perkins continued, “Great leaders:

1. Courageously speak up and say the unpopular.
2. Overcome the pressure to conform and say hard things.
3. Challenge assumptions.”

“You can get promoted,” Perkins commented, “without courage.” Honestly, many organizations don’t want the truth. They want the company line, the accepted, and the expected. The need to fit in motivates deception and creates mediocrity.

Truth-telling starts at the top. Leaders who need to hear what they want to hear create dishonest cultures. Fear of offending arouses deception. People deceive for personal benefit. Wise leaders give advantages to truth-tellers not yes-men.

Truth-telling according to Perkins:

1. Isn’t brash.
2. Requires steely resolve.
3. Comes from quiet confidence.
4. Reflects calm not bravado.
5. Demands focus.

People to trust:

Trust people who are willing to speak otherwise, express the unpopular, and challenge assumptions without personal agendas.

Respect opens the door to the gift of truth.

A trusted leadership colleague called to let me know I was harsh with two young leaders in a recent meeting. We discussed it. Explored my intent and evaluate my methods. I expressed noble intent inappropriately. Honesty is a gift.

I heard him because he respects me. Respect opens ears.

Here’s a post on “Finding Courage” — The past is the future without courageous leadership.

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How can leaders speak the truth without alienating others?

How are truthful environments created and sustained?

Project: Ask your team how you can promote truth-telling in your organization.

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