Evolution – Chapter Two

Reflect:  Comprehend Effective Leadership

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
Michael Altshuler

1. The Ways of Yesterday

• a.  It Ain’t 1945

I’ve had occasion to speak to thousands of people who are occupying leadership positions. Did you catch that? Some in leadership positions aren’t necessarily effective leaders. My perspective is possibly a bit biased and myopic, but even so, I’m absolutely shocked at the staying power of obsolete methodology. I continue to ask myself, “how is it possible that these dinosaurs continue to roam the face of the earth?”

We were preparing to run a survey for a larger medical organization. I received an email from the hospital’s CEO, someone who’d been in the position for many years, which included the following two comments:

1. 1. “I don’t like asking employees whether their manager is conforming to standards. Our managers have never been told there are standards in the first place.”
   2. “The survey uses the term ‘leader.’ This will create confusion around here.”

I certainly hope these are two of the most ludicrous comments you’ve heard in a while! That email was the beginning of the end of our relationship. This CEO then asked for my initial impressions of his senior staff with the stipulation that we would keep my remarks completely confidential. I commented that some of the initial coordination was rough and that some of his decision makers seemed unable to make decisions without total consensus, and I pointed out that this indicated to me they may have been conditioned by a micromanager. He immediately took the information to the parties in question and, of course, this led to our ending the relationship.  I tested him, he failed.  Lack of integrity, unable to take feedback, and living the life of a CEO near retirement, unwilling and unable to make change.