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A Note from Linda ...
TIMES, ARE THEY A CHANGIN'? Perhaps we need to take another look at what's needed in leadership style during this period of uncertainty and transition. Is it time to call on intensely visionary leaders? There's a case to be made for narcissistic CEOs who can lead companies to greatness, inspire followers and achieve game-changing solutions in our rapidly changing world. In the words of Michael Maccoby, author of Narcissistic Leaders: Who Succeeds and Who Fails: "It is narcissistic leaders who take us to places we've never been before, who innovate, who build empires out of nothing." Conservative leadership, focusing on what works now, can negatively impact the technological and social advances required over the next 20 years. Given the huge social and economic stakes, there's an urgent need to understand leaders' personality types-particularly, the promise and peril of radical, visionary leadership. When does visionary leadership veer off into unproductive narcissism? Narcissists can be honest or crooked, brilliant or ordinary, wise or foolish. The label is often misused and misunderstood, and it's usually applied in a negative context. Consider this: Narcissists can be passionately bold visionaries, highly capable of persuading others to embrace the value of their ideas. In the last 20 years, we've enjoyed radical advances from companies led by productive narcissists like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Andy Grove, Howard Schultz, Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey. Each is a strong personality with narcissistic tendencies of the productive kind. Strategic Intelligence Think of Jack Welch, Bill Gates and Herb Kelleher, the flamboyant self-promoter who built Southwest Airlines. These leaders developed disciplined management styles by partnering with operational managers who implemented their strategies. These visionary leaders (and others who succeed as productive narcissists) are strategically intelligent. It's not enough to be a creative genius with media-worthy new ideas. Building an innovative organization requires leaders who know how to motivate talented and ethical people within a system that creates value for customers, employees and owners. Many companies, even those known for innovation, don't want to hire narcissists. No matter how much their leaders boast of encouraging independent thinking and creativity, many businesses have little tolerance for true originals or mavericks. They prefer the obsessive type who is driven to please and enforces company rules. Too often, promotions are in short supply for high-performing, creative visionaries who aren't "team players." Indeed, most narcissists don't "play well with others" - unless, that is, they have strategic intelligence and pay close attention to the crucial requirements for leading a company to sustainable success. Five Elements of Strategic Intelligence According to Maccoby, visionary leaders succeed because they have mastered five elements of strategic intelligence: * Foresight * Systems thinking * Visioning * Motivating * Partnering Self-Assessment There is no established measurement tool for strategic intelligence. In Narcissistic Leaders, Maccoby offers several questions that can help you self-assess your abilities. The real test of a leader's strategic intelligence is in the workplace: * Foresight: How well do you stay abreast of marketplace trends? Do you excel at imagining new products, services and paradigms for the future? * Systems Thinking: Do you think in terms of systems, synthesizing and integrating feedback and hard-to-imagine possibilities? * Visioning: How well can you take an idea and translate it into a workable vision with measurable goals? * Motivating: Do you inspire others to buy into your vision and execute your ideas? * Partnering: How well do you forge strategic alliances, both internally and externally? Do you recognize that alliances are two-way streets and encourage collaboration? Given the huge social and economic stakes, there's a critical need to understand leadership personalities, including the value of the narcissistic leader. Linda Yaffe |
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Whether you are jump-starting a business, advancing your career, an executive or president, Linda’s coaching expertise will provide you with the essential focus, skills and behaviors needed to perform, advance and lead in today’s business environment. As well, Linda works closely with companies like yours focused on "high potential grooming and leadership performance enhancement" geared toward your top talent and next generation of leaders. Linda delivers bottom-line benefits to individuals and organizations focused on moving to the highest levels of learning, performance and achievement. In addition to coaching, Linda delivers Leadership Workshops to small and large businesses. Linda abides by the strict code of confidentiality and adheres to the highest standard of ethics in accordance with the International Coach Federation. For more information, please contact Linda by email at LYaffe@WorkingMatters.com |
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