Originally Published in my Tumblr 2011
Stagnant water stinks! So does stagnant leadership.
Have you ever been someplace so long you sit in meeting with people you work with and while the leader says “This year is going to be different” the comments from the room are negative and almost certain to include shaking heads?
Or, you’re the new guy and in that very same meeting you are excited about the future, but the shaking heads soon lead to the “meeting after the meeting” and the dreaded words, “Things will never change, I’ve been around here for years and nothing ever changes.”
The leader even takes the time to privately bemoan the fact that his appointed leaders can’t ever get the job done and he must do it all. The scenario is really familiar and happens in at least 60% of small businesses and schools. How do I know? I’ve been “that” leader and I’ve witnessed others going through the very same thing.
What are the symptoms? Communication is one-sided. People are present but not attentive. Nothing gets done in a timely manner. And almost everyone in leadership is to busy telling you how important they are, rather than being a part of the solution. And employees, when they make a mistake are considered worthless and morons. Oh, one last thing! When you’re the new guy, they try to convince you that you are worthless, and you can’t change the place so don’t bother to try.
The leader really isn’t totally at fault in a setting where purposeless leadership is the norm. But that leader does bear the burden of creating a new culture. Good luck with that…or just read my next post.