Leadership: what do they say behind your back?

Published: 2011-06-16   There are 4 comments ... please add yours below

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” So said the English humorist, Douglas Adams – thus making light of a failure and its attendant embarrassment. If we repeat such mistakes, they taint our brand and become a significant aftertaste or qualifier. “Fred adds a lot of value … but he’s always late.” Those last four words are the unwashed grit in an otherwise lovely salad. What is your own brand qualifier: that negative warning people add? Here are six to consider.

• Inefficiency: Some years ago, as a venture capitalist, I worked with the CEO of an electronics firm. Investors, staff and customers were captivated by his ideas and energy. However, he was so disorganised things often ran off the rails or, worse, didn’t get done at all. The general comment? “He’s brilliant … but please, get me out of here!”
• Lack of empathy: In contrast, another investee CEO was both inventive and well organised: roles were clear, deadlines respected, money accounted for. But, she was cold as ice – caring only for her particular needs and goals. She could attract employees and clients but not keep their commitment. “Amazing person … but a one-woman-band.”
• Absence of cost-consciousness: A division head I knew was well-liked by everyone and regarded as a great marketer. But, he was wayward on costs: projects ran over budget, he was extravagant personally and casual in tracking costs generally. Despite warnings, he didn’t change. “Great guy … but we can’t afford him – financially or culturally.”
• Lack of direction: Several leaders I’ve known have been brilliant at understanding the economics of their business and how to build it – but couldn’t convert this into a clear vision and a set of well-defined goals to align and motivate staff. As one said to me “I love working with her … but this is never going to deliver the goods.”
• Poor communication: In contrast to the above, there are leaders with a clear big picture and also detailed goals. But they only tell people parts of the story. The whole team never gets the whole picture; or, the story keeps on changing. Either way, the response becomes similar “Great guy with great ideas … but what in hell is the real plan?”
• Lateness: Let’s finish where we started. A senior division head believed (accurately) that he was technically topflight. What he didn’t get was that, for his colleagues and clients, on-time delivery was often mission critical. He kidded himself that his superb work took precedence over all else – justifying any delay. “Top professional … but he stuffs the rest of us around!”

So … what aftertaste does your leadership leave in the mouths of clients, colleagues and team members? What qualifier do they add – the doubt about your suitability as leader and workmate? Would it be the same comment from each group? Or different ones? More importantly, what are you going to do about the single theme or its several variations? Most importantly, decide and act NOW! Before the one-time qualifiers become the all-time story!

Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®