Opinion- Is fear killing leadership?
Hello and thank you for reading this.
Today I’m gonna write another of what I’m calling my opinion posts. I haven’t badged it like that before; but i’m taking a risk. Why? because that's what life is about.
The role of a coach is to disturb and provoke thought. You will regret the things you didn't do, more than you will the things you did.
So this post and any other I write under the badge of OPINION opinion with the aim of doing exactly that.
Annoyed by it - lean in. Change my perception. Support my view? let me know. And, if there is some element of truth in it for you - think about what that means. If you have the influence to do something about it, use it
If you want to change it. Let’s work together, to make it so.
Stefan
Is fear killing leadership?
Euston, we have a problem.
What's that I hear you say?
It's called denial. Denial about what?
Well lots of things I reply. But on these three fronts, in particular. Denial that:
1. We need to act on climate change.
Those tasked with leading organisations know what to do to slow or halt it. They do; they fear the repercussions of saying so.
2. There are massive discrepancies in wealth and opportunity in the UK and the rest of the world. Where you start - still very much dictates where you end up (yes there are outliers).
Managers are making recruitment and promotion decisions, everyday, which underline this.
3. That levels of work and the expectations of life are crushing people from the top to the bottom.
It's only a minority of outliers who are swimming rather than treading water.
We need to stop people having to be player managers. If we did this, more people would feel like humans and would be happier and more productive.
Extended timescales, reduced forecasts and patient shared holders, could change this overnight.
But boards are scared of asking.
So what's causing this denial?
I believe it's fear.
The fear of losing face and of being the one to say no.
Fear is driving far too many capable leaders to feel 'stunted'. Too many feel that they can't say that they dont have enough time to get work done, in office hours. Let alone to develop their people.
Fear stops CEO's, Boards and Managers accepting that we need to slow down.
We need to shape up and change focus, before we burn this planet and our people down.
Fear stops governments and regulators driving for UN Sustainable Development Goals, COP28 obligations and community minded goals.
Fear say the monied people might walk away.
Now I don't expect anyone to like this post....
I don't expect anyone to share it - but if you do - thank you for being a leader.
Leaders acknowledge when uncomfortable change is a necessity. For the greater good, they do what is right to safeguard their people.
They know that without their people - they lead nothing.
My coachees are good people who want to lead great things. A number are - against the tide - effecting positive change with wide implications.
We are seeing too many ' at the top', the 'showbiz execs' - parading as leaders - but doing nothing more than 'managing' things.
This is not because they are managing people - if only. No; it's because all they are doing is 'managing the status quo'.
If fear is what stops those with influence from acting, let's change the definition of management, to recognise what we are seeing.
Let the dictionaries and role profiles be amended; I say and let it be writ large, that:
"Management is the behaviour of any person, with positional influence, who does not use that influence for greater good".
Fear is killing leadership and I believe that:
“…the word leadership should be used to describe the act or attempted act of those who place themselves in the service of others and our planet".
For those are the acts of people leaning into fear. And those are the acts of the people whom I have always thought of as leaders.
I'd welcome your thoughts and feelings.
Stefan
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I look forward to sharing my next OPINION blog soon.
For now; thank you
I am…
An executive coach who specialises in helping good people lead great things.
Good people care about others, our planet and beauty. Great things are changes for the betterment of society and all that lives within an around it.
It sounds big and fun - it is.
I'm also an endurance racing cyclist and a go. getter.
You can read more about me and what I do; how I work here