The 6 Habits of Highly Unrealistic Leaders
Years ago I was reading the great book Confronting Reality – Doing What Matters to Get Things Right by Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan and came across a list of 6 bad habits that got leaders in trouble when their company or organization was not performing or trending in the wrong direction. I summarized them and have often used them during off-sites or workshops to remind leaders in the room of behaviours to be on the lookout for. Here are the 6 habits of highly unrealistic leaders:
1. Filtered Information
When leaders aren’t getting reality-based insights from the source, instead it is filtered through several layers of management.
2. Selective Hearing
When leaders hang on to preconceived notions or past experiences, or when repeatedly looking into the rearview mirror on past accomplishments, or think they know what is right based on the arrogance of previous successes.
3. Wishful Thinking
When leaders look for the market to come back and are not seeing the data presented to them for what it actually is. This is the root of much selective hearing and seeing.
4. Fear
When leaders fear embarrassment over possibly saying the wrong thing or going against the organizational culture that seems driven by fear and doing so not share important insights that could have avoided a major problem.
5. Emotional Over Investment
When leaders are invested so much personally in a project that they are blind to reality.
6. Unrealistic Expectations of Capital Markets
When leaders forget the type of business they're in and what is realistic to expect for that type of business.
What would you add to the list?
