What Keeps You Awake at Night?
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A Crisis in Leadership
A lot has been discussed and written about concerning leadership. I, myself have written about this in an article published in Design 2 Part magazine, entitled, “8 Important Characteristics of Business Leaders: How 5 of the Greatest Exemplify Them”. (https://www.d2pmagazine.com/2020/10/16/8-important-characteristics-of-business-leaders-how-5-of-the-greatest-exemplify-them/}.
In spite of this, there is still a lack of good leaders, people we look up to and want to follow.
In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, 86% of respondents to a survey on the global agenda said that we have a leadership crisis in the world today.’
You would think that it couldn’t or shouldn’t be that bad. After all, we talk about, read about and study leadership. Yet, the facts are the facts. There is a lack of leadership and that causes some or possibly even many to keep them awake at night.
The problem may lie in two areas.
The first is the leadership that the individual is connected to. That person may be dictatorial, uninspiring or just plain incompetent. They got to their position through politics or nepotism and you are then expected to do their bidding.
You could certainly look for another position either in your current organization or somewhere else. But, the thought that it could be even worse makes you give pause to making a move and so you stay and bear it.
The second is with yourself. You have risen to a leadership position. You like to think that you earned it, but these days you really aren’t sure. Nothing you are leading seems to be going well. Deadlines are regularly missed, budgets are blown and you know your people are not confident in you and your ability to lead.
And, there is no one to talk to about this. Your boss tells you that you were placed in the position you are in because you are supposed to have the ability to get things done. Just do it you are told. But, do what? You have tried everything you know and nothing has worked. So now what?
