Leadership gaps exist at every level, from the CEO down to our creative team leads.
|This is not a slight against anyone, but a matter of fact.
Such leadership gaps – in isolation – need not hold us back from massive success.
Such leadership gaps – ignored and exposed – will indefinitely hold us back.
Some leadership gaps are skills-based, and demand coaching and mentoring.
Some leadership gaps are weaknesses in abilities, and can at best be:
- Identified and admitted
- Covered by other leaders
- Guardrailed against exposure
What we must not do is ignore our warts.
We must knowingly and proudly accept who we are,
Build systems and guardrails against our weaknesses,
Build platforms and stages for our strengths.
“Remember that weaknesses don’t matter if you find solutions.”
– Ray Dalio –
Sometimes we care more about being liked than doing the right thing:
To believe in the people we lead and hold them to high standards.
People know when you have low expectations of them.
Leaders see more in their people than the people see in themselves.
They are able to have the tough conversations when required,
Because their strength comes from love and truth, for both the individual and team.
Some of us are overly optimistic and lack the clarity to see obstacles and dangers.
Some of us are overly pessimistic and lack the clarity to see paths and opportunities.
Know your biases, and know that they are biases. And like all biases, it is not the truth.
Some of us are a bit heavy-handed, failing to adapt to personality styles.
Some of us are too soft on our people, failing to set standards and expectations.
In either case, we’re not getting the best of our people. We’re not helping them be their best selves.
Some of us speak without thinking, failing to assess 2nd and 3rd order consequences.
Some of us don’t speak enough, failing to contribute vital perspectives and insights.
In both cases, what is lacking is executive presence and control.
Sometimes we lack courage, holding our team back from opportunities.
Sometimes we lack courage, holding ourselves back from greater realities.
Lacking courage is prioritizing fears, and squashing dreams.
We all have weaknesses. That’s okay.
“The fastest path to success starts with knowing what your weaknesses are.”
– Ray Dalio –
What’s not okay, is to play the game not knowing our strengths and weaknesses,
Or pretending and dismissing such truths,
Resulting in us not covering for each other adequately,
And not passing the puck, ball, and baton to the right person for the right job.
RESPONSE BY MS:
Love this, by the way:
What we must not do is ignore our warts
We must knowingly and proudly accept who we are,
Build systems and guardrails against our weaknesses,
Build platforms and stages for our strengths.
This is the key to building strong, diverse teams.
Your top responsibility as CEO is to stack the chessboard and set up the chess pieces for group victory.
